Mood-Lines a simple visual tool for finding core issues and exploring possibilities Gwyneth Moss MA Presented at the International EFT Masterclass

What’s it all about? Do you ever get stuck in the story? Do you ever get stuck in the story? Or scribble frantically and lose focus on your client? Or scribble frantically and lose focus on your client? Does your client have verbal diarrhoea? Does your client have verbal diarrhoea? Or verbal constipation? Or verbal constipation?

Sometimes it takes ages… Sometimes it take a whole session to understand a person’s story Sometimes it take a whole session to understand a person’s story And then there is no time left to do something practical to help them… And then there is no time left to do something practical to help them… Or worse you forget the sequence of significant events Or worse you forget the sequence of significant events Or just can’t see the wood for the trees… Or just can’t see the wood for the trees…

There has to be an easier way We know that the deeper mind prefers non-verbal communication We know that the deeper mind prefers non-verbal communication We know that separating the person from the problem gains perspective We know that separating the person from the problem gains perspective We know that good questions get good answers We know that good questions get good answers We know that EFT can clear the effects of conflicts and traumas… once we find them We know that EFT can clear the effects of conflicts and traumas… once we find them

Gathering Information by Drawing A visual exercise to find good questions …and really useful answers

A Drinking Life Birth Now Draw a line that shows how your level of drinking has changed throughout your life… Draw a line that shows how your level of drinking has changed throughout your life…

Now ask the obvious questions… At Increase points – what happened (Look for traumatic or events or conflicts) At Increase points – what happened (Look for traumatic or events or conflicts) At Turning Points – how did you turn that round? (Look for resources) At Turning Points – how did you turn that round? (Look for resources) When not drinking – what was different? (How was life working then?) When not drinking – what was different? (How was life working then?)

Look for patterns… What was happening at 32 What was happening at 32 Was there a traumatic event? Was there a traumatic event? Or what changed at work or at home… Or what changed at work or at home… Get to the emotions - What does that remind you of? Find earlier significant emotional events Get to the emotions - What does that remind you of? Find earlier significant emotional events

Ask about the quality of the experience of drinking For a particular period – when, where, with whom, what did you drink? For a particular period – when, where, with whom, what did you drink? Was that enjoyable? Was that enjoyable? What did you get from that? What did you get from that? Fun, Friendship, Social Solitary Pain, Shame Living Hell

Early pleasure can be a key to later compulsion Psychiatric Nurse Psychiatric Nurse Early drinking experiences of travel and excitement and freedom in New Zealand Early drinking experiences of travel and excitement and freedom in New Zealand Now in stressful job and grey climate with big mortgage and feeling trapped Now in stressful job and grey climate with big mortgage and feeling trapped Compulsion for drinking New Zealand lager is attempt to find fun and freedom Compulsion for drinking New Zealand lager is attempt to find fun and freedom

Binge Drinking Patterns Draw a line that shows your mood level over the two week interval of your drinking pattern. Above the line is feel-good, below is feel-bad Draw a line that shows your mood level over the two week interval of your drinking pattern. Above the line is feel-good, below is feel-bad Emerge Lock-in

Ask the obvious questions At all line turning points ask: What is happening here? At all line turning points ask: What is happening here? Emerge Lock-in

Drinking and Drunking This was drawn to show the difference between the new pattern of drinking and the old pattern of drunking showing Mood over a day This was drawn to show the difference between the new pattern of drinking and the old pattern of drunking showing Mood over a day Wake up positive Guilt Wake up depressed Oh SOD it! Oh Shit Satisfaction Reward Get things done

Drinking and Drunking What happens if this bit changes? What happens if this bit changes? How could that happen? How could that happen? Wake up positive Guilt Wake up depressed Oh SOD it! Oh Shit Satisfaction Reward Get things done

Setting Goals Just suppose your best possible future relationship with alcohol is possible? Just suppose your best possible future relationship with alcohol is possible? Never, ever again. Moderate, social and pleasurable Lock-in Now

Drawing Life or Mood Lines Lifetime Consumption Line Lifetime Consumption Line Binge Pattern Mood Line over the cycle of a binge Binge Pattern Mood Line over the cycle of a binge Daily Mood Line for good days and bad days to look for triggers Daily Mood Line for good days and bad days to look for triggers Goal or Best Possibility Lines Goal or Best Possibility Lines

Lots of Lines! Lines for a whole life Lines for a whole life Lines for a repeating pattern of days, weeks or months Lines for a repeating pattern of days, weeks or months Lines for consumption or a behaviour, for mood for weight or anxiety Lines for consumption or a behaviour, for mood for weight or anxiety Lines to compare strategies Lines to compare strategies Lines for future possibility Lines for future possibility Lines for anything you like! Lines for anything you like!

An Exercise Choose a behaviour or something of your own and draw a line Choose a behaviour or something of your own and draw a line Show someone else the line and let them ask you the obvious questions Show someone else the line and let them ask you the obvious questions Don’t tell them what the behaviour is unless you want to Don’t tell them what the behaviour is unless you want to

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