THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF THE PERSONAL ICEBERG METAPHOR OF THERAPISTS IN SATHTS SYSTEMIC BRIEF THERAPY TRAINING by Wendy Diane Lum B.A., Un iversity of Victoria, 1978 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFDLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education) We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA April 2000 © Wendy Diane Lum, 2000 In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for an advanced degree at the University of British Columbia, I agree that the Library shall make it freely available for reference and study. I further agree that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the head of my department or by his or her representatives. It is understood that copying or publication of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Department of The University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada Date £1 AW-AJL / 0 0 DE-6 (2/88) ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to discover how therapists understood and experienced the Personal Iceberg Metaphor from Satir's systemic brief therapy training program. This metaphor provided a framework for insight into the internal world of the person. Nine therapists (seven women and two men) whose ages were between 35-61 years old, participated in the study. Participants must have completed 120 hours of Satir's systemic brief therapy training, which included the beginner and the advanced level programs. A phenomenological approach was used for the procedure on how to interview participants and on how to analyze the data which was gathered. The researcher conducted two interviews with each participant over a seven month period. Five common themes emerged which highlighted the lived experience of the participants. The lived experience of the Personal Iceberg Metaphor: (1) facilitates awareness, (2) is an integration process of externalization towards internalization, (3) fosters acceptance, (4) facilitates change, and (5) fosters spiritual development and connection to Self: I am. The inner world and process of therapists was surfaced and explored. The participants experienced intrapsychic and interactive impacts and changes. The descriptions within each theme have illustrated the growth and development of the participant as a person and as a therapist. The findings of this study illustrates how therapists have positively changed through their involvement and exploration with the Personal Iceberg Metaphor within Satir's systemic brief therapy training. The findings from this research offer recommendations for counselling research and practice in the area of personal and professional development for therapists. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract i Table Of Contents i List Of Tables And Figures vi Acknowledgments vi CHAPTER 1: THE SCOPE AND FOCUS OF THE STUDY 1 Introduction 1 Background To The Study 1 Asumptions 3 Limitations Of Existing Research 4 The Research Question 6 Rationale For The Study 6 Methodological Aproach To The Study 7 Definition Of Terms 7 Coping Stances 7 Iner Experience 7 Lived Experience 7 Personal Iceberg Metaphor 7 Spiritual Core 8 Systemic Brief Therapy 8 Universal Life Force 8 Sumary 8 CHAPTER I: LITERATURE REVIEW 1 Introduction 1 Metaphor 1 Personal Iceberg Metaphor 13 The Self: I Am 15 Yearnings 16 Expectations 17 Perceptions 18 Felings 20 Felings About The Felings 21 Coping Stances 2 Behaviour 23 Virginia Satir's Background, Philosophy And Growth Model 24 Proces, Growth And Change 26 Systemic Therapy And Change 28 Experiential Proces 31 Awarenes 32 Reflection 35 iv Congruence 36 Aceptance And Understanding 38 Use Of Self In Therapy 40 Training Of Therapists 42 Research Into Family Therapy And Training 49 Spirituality In Therapy 51 Sumary 5 CHAPTER Ul: METHODOLOGY 57 Introduction 57 Phenomenology As A Methodology 57 Research Design 59 The Interview Structure 59 Bracketed Presupositions 60 Procedure 63 Selection Of Participants 64 Data Colection 65 Data Analysis 6 Time Frame Of The Study 69 Ethical Considerations 70 Limitations Of The Study 70 Investigator Triangulation (Reliability And Validity) 71 Sumary 81 CHAPTER IV: RESULTS 83 Introduction 83 Description Of The Participants 83 Ane 85 Deb 86 Deborah 86 Jim 86 Judy 87 Sandy 87 Sue 8 Tatiana 8 Tod 8 Emerging Themes 89 The General Structure For The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Of Therapists In Satir' s Systemic Brief Therapy Training 91 1) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Facilitates Awarenes 91 IA) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Facilitates Reflection And Aces To Iner Knowing 92 IB) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Fosters Clarity And Conscious Choice Making 94 V IC) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Develops The Conscious Use Of Self 95 2) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Is An Integration Proces Of Externalization Towards Internalization 96 2 A) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Movement Away From External Storytelling Towards Internal Impact 97 2B) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Challenges A Person To Take Risks To Experience And Facilitates Experiential Procesing 9 2C) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Shifts External Focus To Internal Focus 102 2D) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Is Simple To Understand, Yet Challenging To Actualize It's Complexity. 103 2E) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Accesses And Develops Strengths And Resources Which Facilitates A Sense Of Competency 106 2F) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Facilitates Congruence And A Sense Of Fredom 109 3) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Fosters Aceptance I l l 3 A) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Transforms Fear And Anxiety Into Hope, Energy And Creativity .... 113 3B) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Transforms Critical Judgment And Reactivity Into Understanding And Compasion 15 4) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Facilitates Change 17 4 A) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Organizes And Provides A Direction For The Change Proces 18 4B) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Enables The Therapist To Be The Change Agent Within The Client's System 120 4C) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Facilitates Healing Change Very Quickly 120 4D) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Impacts Internal And Interpersonal Change 12 4E) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Facilitates Dep Internal Shifts 124 5) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Fosters Spiritual Development And Conection To Self: I Am 125 5A) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Facilitates A Sense Of Iner Peace And Serenity 128 5B) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Facilitates A Spiritual Experience 129 vi 5C) The Lived Experience Of The Personal Iceberg Metaphor Fosters A Sense Of Universality And Interconectednes 130 The Comon Story 131 Participants' Reactions To The Study 136 Sumary 137 CHAPTER V: DISCUSION OF RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS 139 Introduction 139 Awarenes 140 Integration Proces 143 Aceptance 148 Change 150 Spiritual Development And Conection 152 Implications Of The Study For Counseling Research And Practice 154 Sumary And Conclusions 161 REFERENCES 163 APENDICES 174 A. Coping Stances 174 B. Leter Of Recruitment 175 C. Consent Form 176 D. Interview 17 E. Folow Up Interview 178 F. Individual Structure: Ane 179 G. Individual Structure: Deb 185 H. Individual Structure: Deborah 191 I. Individual Structure: Jim 197 J. Individual Structure: Judy 201 K. Individual Structure: Sandy 205 L. Individual Structure: Sue 210 M. Individual Structure: Tatiana 215 N. Individual Structure: Tod 21 O. Investigator Triangulation Questions 25 vii LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Figure 1:1 Personal Iceberg Metaphor of the Satir Model 10 Table 3:1 Theme Results 82 Table 4:1 Themes for the Lived Experience of the Personal Iceberg Metaphor Of Therapists In Satir's Systemic Brief Training Program 90 Vll l ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I have appreciated support from many people throughout my Masters program and I wish to thank the people who helped me to complete this research study. I would especially like to thank my thesis advisor, Dr. B i l l Borgen for having faith in my knowledge and abilities. Dr. Borgen's patience, guidance and gentleness contributed greatly towards my motivation and determination to complete this project. I would also like to thank my two committee members; Dr. Norm Amundson and Dr. John Banmen for their helpful suggestions in my quest to develop and refine my research ideas to support the study. I am deeply honored to have received Dr. John Banmen's and Kathlyne Maki-Banmen's guidance, support and faith in me as a person, and for my abilities as a therapist. They have consistently nurtured my personal and professional growth since Satir's systemic brief therapy training that I took in 1994. During my own in-class demonstration with Dr. Banmen in 1995,1 experienced transformation in the Self: I am, which has impacted and enhanced every aspect of my life. I am very grateful for the deep inner shift which occurred within me. I would like to especially thank the participants in this study for their willingness to explore and share their deep insights and personal experiences; Anne, Deb, Deborah, Jim, Judy, Sandy, Tatiana and Todd. I was honored and inspired in listening to their personal growth and professional development with the Personal Iceberg Metaphor. I really admired their openness, honesty, courage and sense of contribution to the research development of the Personal Iceberg Metaphor. I want like to thank Pindy Badyal and Steve Smith for their observations, insights and caring support. I wish to thank Dr. Joanne Crandall and Kathlyne Maki-Banmen for generously ix sharing their phenomenological knowledge with me. I would also like to thank the many Satir triad members with whom I have had the privilege of working with to heal my own inner blocks and to develop my therapeutic Satir skills, especially; Sandra Ang, Carol Dukowski, Anne Morrison, and Jim Smith. I want to thank Bonnie Mason for supporting me to pursue to my educational development, and for initially encouraging me to take Satir's systemic brief therapy training. I wish to thank my close friends and family that have supported me throughout my studies; especially my parents, Ed and Rose Lum for showing me the importance of kindness, resourcefulness, independence and contribution to society; and my cousin Kim White for believing in my abilities and loving me unconditionally. Finally I would like to dedicate my thesis to these important people that have since passed away; my brother Glenn Lum for believing that I deserved to have the best in life, and to my maternal grandfather Lee Heme Woo for instilling in me, the values of love, compassion, generosity and spirituality. I am also grateful for being touched by Virginia Satir's generosity, wisdom, incredible love, and respect for all people.