ABSTRACT
Emotional and mental distress may be understood in terms of styles of processing. That is, in some individuals and for a variety of reasons, rather than the fluid form described as desirable, process is ‘difficult’ for the client, the therapist or both. For example, Warner (2001: 182–183) describes three kinds of ‘difficult’ process. She later (see Warner 2007b: 143–144) added a fourth, metaphact process. These are also considered in Warner (2014).
Fragile process. Individuals with a fragile style of processing tend to experience core issues at very low or very high levels of intensity and have difficulty holding onto their own experience. They are often diagnosed as borderline or narcissistic. Because of the fragile connection with their own experience, they often have difficulty accepting the point of view of another person without feeling overwhelmed or that their experience has been annihilated. Warner (2007a: 160) indicates that fragile processing is likely to have arisen from a lack of empathic care-giving at crucial stages in early childhood or ‘around newer edges of their experience that have not previously been received by themselves or others’.
Dissociated process. Clients experiencing a dissociated process go through periods when they quite convincingly experience themselves as having ‘selves’ that are not 106integrated with each other. That is as having multiple selves, one or more of whom may or may not be aware of the existence of some or all of the others for some or all of the time.
Sometimes they experience a fragmentation or disunity of self that can be (literally) maddening to them and appear ‘crazy’ to others. People with dissociated process may appear to function well enough for years without being aware of their various ‘parts’ by keeping busy but leading restricted lives. However, it is likely that past experiences will return disturbingly and disruptingly at times of crisis. This type of processing has been identified with ‘multiple personality disorder’ and ‘dissociative identity disorder’ and almost always results from severe early childhood trauma.
Psychotic process. Clients experiencing a psychotic form of processing have impaired contact with themselves, others and the world. They have difficulty in formulating and/or communicating their experience in a way which makes cohesive sense and have equal difficulty making sense of their environment. People with a psychotic form of processing may hear voices and/or experience hallucinations or delusions which are alienating. The label ‘schizophrenic’ is one of many which may be attached to people experiencing psychotic processing.
Metaphact process. In this style of processing ordinary facts and metaphors are joined into a single hybrid form when the person is trying to make sense of something new or emotionally complex. This can sound very strange and irrational but Warner (2007b: 144) says metaphact processing ‘is a lot like deaf sign language’ in that it can seem crazy to someone to whom it is unfamiliar but is really an eloquent form of communication. Warner (2014: 133–135) includes more of her understanding of this style of processing and she makes reference to some relevant research.
In her various papers, Warner describes the possible origins of these styles of processing and effective ways of working with each group of clients in a person-centred way.