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What is Process Work?HistoryProcess Work is an awareness-based approach for supporting individual and collective growth and change. Originally known as Process-oriented Psychology or Dreambodywork, it was developed in the 1970s and 80s in Zurich Switzerland, by Jungian analyst and physicist Arnold P. Mindell and his students and colleagues. Today there are Process Work communities and training centers all over the world. The theory and practice of Process Work is constantly evolving. PhilosophyProcess Work is both a philosophy or "idea" and a very precise set of skills and methods. Process Work suggests that the solution to any difficulty is contained within the disturbance itself. It offers new and innovative ways of working with areas of life that are experienced as painful and problematic. The basic philosophy is one of empowerment through awareness. Process Work teaches us to follow the flow of what is happening in our lives. It moves us from the place of victim, to a place where we collaborate with the creation of our lives, and even benefit from forces that are out of our control. Physical symptoms, body problems, relationship opponents, family issues and career challenges can all be teachers. Our worst problems have the potential to become our greatest allies. Process Work recognizes an inherent structure and wisdom in nature that expresses itself through individuals and groups. We call this inherent wisdom, "the dreaming process." Most people think of the dreaming process as something that happens when we are asleep. But it is much more than just that. Dreaming also happens while we are awake. The “dreaming process,” as we understand it, includes:
Benefits of Process Work:By understanding and following our dreaming process we can:
“…My goal is to make the Dreaming roots of reality so accessible, so visceral, that your conscious mind will give you back your right to dream.” Roots of Process WorkIn the 1970s, Mindell began researching the connection between night-time dreams and physical illnesses. This research led him to the conclusion that, much like dreams, illness and body symptoms are a meaningful expression of the unconscious mind. As his research continued into the 80s, he discovered that the unconscious expresses itself through moods, relationships difficulties, addictions, accidents, synchronicities and even social tensions and world events. He named this "the dreaming process." Although Process Work learns and borrows from numerous fields of thought, it's main roots are in Jungian psychology, Taoism and quantum physics We follow the teleological paradigm of CG Jung which teaches us that the unconscious is more than just a repository for repressed material and problems from our past. Rather it is creative and purposeful, moving us towards freedom, wholeness and individuality. And it contains universal patterns or archetypes that connect us with people across cultures and across time. From Taoism we learn to worship Nature as she expresses herself in myriad ways, both visible and subtle. We learn to respect and follow the Tao, the flow of events, rather than trying to control that flow. We gain spiritual and transpersonal insight from Nature's most troublesome expressions. Quantum physics teaches us about the connection between mind and matter. It introduces a non-local, non-dualistic field which can be described mathematically but cannot be seen directly. This field moves in the background of all things. By focusing on our most subtle feelings and the most subtle atmospheres between people and groups, we can sense and experience that field directly. Mindell has written extensively on the scientific background of Process Work. “The wise student hears of the Tao and practices diligently. ApplicationsRegardless of the application, Process Work's method is basically the same. It is a signal-based approach and an awareness technique that uses an exact skill set in conjunction with a heartfelt attitude. We recognize that information flows through certain basic channels, including (but not limited to) vision, audition, feeling and movement. Relationships and the environment (both physical and social) are also channels for information, although more complex. Both individuals and groups have the tendency to embrace and accept some information while marginalizing or blocking out other signals. It is common to ignore signals that threaten the identity or push us outside our comfort zone. Process workers study this process of identification and marginalization in order to help individuals and groups become more aware of their diversity, complexity and wholeness. Process Work facilitation takes many forms and is applied in various arenas:
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