Latest news - it is 2009 and the notes on this website go back to around 1994. They are still valid but we now have a much more up to date website devoted just to Voice Dialogue, Self Awareness and Self empowerment. There you will find this page (updated) plus many more new articles, new worksheets and more explanations. New pages are being added every week.

Can I suggest that you go to http://www.voice-dialogue-inner-self-awareness.com   
to see our latest voice dialogue advice and information including

major updates to this page  at

http://www.voice-dialogue-inner-self-awareness.com /facilitate80.html

1.1 Agree on which is the central or safe chair and remind client it’s OK to go back to that chair at any time they need to, without asking you.

1.2 Remind client that when operating ‘in a self’ or away from the safe chair to refer to themselves by name and always as a third party as for example ‘He’ ‘She’ or ‘Toni’ and to avoid saying ‘I’, ‘me’ or ‘my’ when referring to themselves as the client.

1.3 Explain that the self being interviewed should use ‘I’ when talking about themselves as in "I have to work hard to protect Toni when she feels vulnerable."

1.4 Ask client what issue or topic he/she would like to work on or what energy is active

1.5 Watch for changes in tone of voice, body language or facial expression, as a guide to the selves that are wanting to talk

2.1 Stay completely neutral – offer no advice nor try to solve problems. Allow the client’s selves to take charge if they want to.

2.2 Be positive, show empathy & support for the self you are talking to

2.3 Unless it is a shy self, it’s good to ask lots of questions. Ask or invite a self to help you at any time you need guidance e.g. Invite a self to help tell you how it would like to be named

2.4 Offer validation and affirmation of the work the self is doing or has done

2.5 Fit your mood to that of the self you are working with.

2.6 If in doubt, acknowledge the wisdom and experience of the self you are working with, ahead of your own

2.7 If a new self ‘comes in’ of its own accord, don’t worry, quietly acknowledge to it your awareness it has replaced the last one, make it feel welcome and keep on facilitating

2.8 Work with a self as you would work with a smart or clever child and allow your intuition to help you in the same way

2.9 When you have finished facilitating a self, say a few words of thanks and motion with your hands towards the safe chair.

3.1 Do not aim for or expect any specific outcome or result at the end of the session that would be of benefit to you Resist the temptation to want it to be a 'good session' for you. Avoid any kind of hidden agenda.

3.2 Do not order selves around. Invite them to do things. Ask the self ‘Would you like to choose a chair (or a spot in the room) anywhere you would feel really comfortable while you are talking?’ rather than ‘Now go to that chair!’

3.3 Don’t debate with a self or get involved in any way if one criticises you as facilitator. Acknowledge its point of view and let it go at that.

3.4 Don’t get involved in making judgements with any self about other selves

3.5 If one of your selves begins ‘talking with’ one of the client’s selves (whether it’s a nice chat or a full-on argument) stop the session and have a break before starting again.

3.6 Do not try to use voice dialogue as a treatment or therapy for diagnosable conditions

4.1. Ask the ‘watcher’ or ‘aware observer’ self to summarise the session. (optional)

4.2. Make sure client is back in the safe (middle) chair before ending the session.

4.3 Integrate! Ask client to draw all the inner selves back from wherever they were in the room and ‘integrate them inside’ again.