Footprintings is a three dimensional Hypnoprojective approach that provides effective and
easy to use tools for identifying, observing, experiencing and repairing the relational
perspective between Self~States as they exist in the present moment. Using color
footprints chosen by the client, to diagram relationships between Parts, patients can step
into different Self~States as they work on clarifying and healing these internal relationships.
This work provides a constructive format for improving internal awareness and
communication and forging new and supportive internal alliances.
1. Memory, body awareness and perception are State Dependent. Each Self State
organizes information in a unique way. When discussing one of his cases in his
book Mindsight,, Dan Siegel points out that different self states actually have
different firings in the brain. *
2. We can learn much more about each Self~State when we access information from
inside that State.
3. Spontaneous insights and body awareness often occur as a result of having this
access.
4. Parts or Self States, are relational and best be understood and clarified when the
relational perspective of these Self~States is visually and spatially diagrammed and
then directly experienced.
5. Footprintings work is a three dimensional process that enables clients to diagram
the posture and stance of each Self~State as well the positional relationships
between Self States in varying contexts.
6. Using this paradigm, clients are able to step in and out of various Self~States
quickly and easily, as they work on these internal relationships
7. In Footprintings work, Self~States are addressed within the contextual framework of
the patient’s present moment experience.
8. In a similar way that we utilize Hypnoprojectives in hypnosis, in Footprintings, we
are accessing representational information from the limbic brain, the part of the
brain that understands internal world in a metaphoric way.
9. The interior relationship between Self States is central to understanding and renegotiating internal change.
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10. When we work with a Part (Self~State) we are implicitly working with the whole self.
When one Part changes, the whole self changes.
11. Using this approach, patients have the opportunity to access and experiment with
shifting internal positions and re-arranging relationships between Parts in order to
identify a Felt Sense of the most viable internal connections and changes.
12. The shift into different states of awareness (Parts) can be startling and informative.
Remember, novelty creates pattern interruptions that can change the brain and
create neuroplasticiity.
13. The Felt Sense of these shifts is inherently anchored in the body and this
spontaneously deepens the imprint of these changes.
14. Footprintings provides instant feedback for the patient.
15. We don’t need complex history taking to do this.
16. With Footprintings we always have an entry point.
17. With Footprintings you can always find resource states.
18. You can validate the awareness of internal shifts for clients by inviting them to
notice how an experience LOOKS and FEELS differently as they shift the internal
positions and stances of particular Self~States
19. Renegotiations and experiential shifts often go deep and set a larger process in
motion. Remember, novelty creates pattern interruptions that can change the brain.
20. Changing internal Self~State relationships enhances our ability to help clients
change external relationships.
21. Footprintings facilitates a Mindfulness process by providing the client with the tools
to create distance and perspective for each Self~State.
Daniel J Siegel,MD; Mindsight; Bantam Books; New York, 2010;. p.205
________________________________________________________________________
Susan Dowell, LCSW, BCD
Co-Director, CATCH (Center for Advancement of Training in Clinical Hypnosis)
135 West 70th Street #2D
New York, NY 10023
NYC Office: 212 864-4171
Westchester Office: 914-738-9360
[email protected]
www.ClinicalHypnosisTraining.com www.Footprintings.com
www.TransformingPossibilities.com