The Heart of Listening: Attentional qualities in psychotherapy.

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Dear Rosalind Pearmain,

 

I am writing to you in response to your book The Heart of Listening: Attentional qualities in psychotherapy. I must begin with acknowledging you exquisite use of language. It’s poetic formation meant for a tactile, belly churning, heart racing experience. The introduction begins with questions that speak to some of the challenges I have encountered thus far in the Miecat space of inquiry. In particular, your pursuit is to articulate and better understand the ‘authentic space between’ therapist/client - but is not limited to; exploring brief encounters with strangers, lovers, enemies; all interactions.

 

Throughout this course, introduction to form and inquiry, I have noticed a dramatic shift in my overall ‘experience’ when existing in a relational sense, that being to; self, space, the modalities and other. This, supported by the considered nuances of relational ethics, has meant for a deeply profound experience when interacting with my peers. Something, that I wasn't really sure how to articulate,  until I read your article. 

 

Throughout this reading you provide such a clever and resonate articulation of what, [Gestalt psychologists term as, ‘vitality contours,’ that being the real time moments of experiencing, a term to articulate that which has been unnamed or has been designated as ineffable' [2001, p. 5]. You capture so eloquently earlier in your writing words that are full of this same dense energetic quality that carefully communicates a deep bodily response to these shapes of the meeting space. You do so by, what feels like, a process of slowing down, and noticing the many qualities and energies that may be present. You allocate words that attempt to draw these energetic qualities into a resonate description of these moments often looked over due to their ordinariness.

 

When discussing the interactions that are present ‘when we meet’ where you describe it to be ‘these may be minuscule qualities of touch, slight shifts of expression, and a subtle moderation in tone of voice. When people are most caring and intimate, these tiny movements speak of enormous feeling and meaning. Even in mundane moments, this exquisite sensitivity is being played out and its impact can be enormous' [2001, p. 3]. This has particular resonance for me, because the more I felt my bones soften into the Miecat procedures, the more spaciousness I allowed when being relational with my peers and the better attuned to self and other I felt. My energy felt ultra sensitive and I felt like I had a greater sense of clarity, which meant I felt deeply supported by my intuition as opposed to the ‘conscious, theoretical or even scattered mind & body.’

 

‘In this felt ‘heart sense’ we provide a kind of resonant place of hearing and feeling availability. I suggest that these three modalities of presence can be called attunement, amplification and depth that involves reverberation. This is what is meant by the heart of listening.’ I feel as though I have deeply felt this transitional space when experiencing a finer attunement, which has resulted in clear moments of amplification, depth and these moments of reverberation. It is here, when we are slowing down and learning to simply be relational, that we are existing in a space full of potential.. I am left in a space post reading this article, full of vibrations and words that have created waves throughout my prior understandings, you have built a vocabulary both intellectually and emotionally for me to draw on.

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Thank you for this insight, truly. 

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Warmest, 

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Cass.