Seeing consciousness as a rolling ball

Seeing consciousness as a rolling ball  by Dr Elizabeth McCardell, M. of Counselling, PhD
Dec 2012 

      Imagine a beach ball rolling around in a swimming pool, or in the ocean. The top surface of the ball rolls to below the surface of the water and then rolls right over so that what was previously on top returns there. The ball rocks a bit in relation to small waves, rolling again, rocking once more. Maybe you are imagining you are the rocking ball in the water, maybe you are not. Maybe you can sense the water around you; maybe you cannot sense the water. Maybe…, maybe not? Whether or not you are the ball or are watching the imaginary ball, its rocking and rolling motion in water has a nice calming quality to it. It’s hard to resist.

      This scenario could well be part of a hypnotic induction process where relaxation and yet concentration and focus allow for some profound changes to take  place at a holistic level in the person being hypnotised, but it also serves to illustrate how non-psychodynamic, non-psychoanalytic theorists  are thinking about consciousness. The rolling  ball image contrasts with the image of the iceberg where the conscious mind is illustrated as being the small bit above the surface of the water with the unconscious mind the huge iceberg below. Psychoanalysts, following Freud, think of consciousness in terms of an iceberg; non-psychoanalysts view consciousness more like a ball in water. I much prefer the rolling ball metaphor. There is fluidity here, fluidity and flexibility, and endless shifting change. 

      There are implications for therapy according to how we see consciousness and unconsciousness. For iceberg theorists and therapists, the work is always about ameliorating suffering at an unconscious level, as what is viewed as the conscious mind is only the “tip of the iceberg”, and a symptom is seen as coming out of  “the unconscious”.   “The unconscious” according to those following psychoanalytic thought is an actual place;  a cauldron of psychic energy which fizzes out in uncontrolled bursts in neurotics. I realize I have lots of mixed metaphors here, but they are only metaphors, which we can make up however we please and according to how we see the world.  The cauldron of psychic energy metaphor was that described by Freud (1856-1939), following his interest in the new technology of steam engines. Neurologically, there isn’t an unconscious mind nor a conscious one, but of course, the mind isn’t well accounted for in neurology. That aside, I want to promote consciousness in terms of the rolling ball analogy because I believe it is a very useful one.

     A rolling ball theorist/therapist has a view of consciousness that sees consciousness as that which is visible now and invisible next and visible again. Notice how this analogy does not talk of an unconscious as an entity. Here is a view of consciousness that is visible sometimes and invisible sometimes as well. This is a consciousness of awareness and unawareness that is always relational to actual contexts, memories, and ideas. There is no storage place of  unthought thoughts, but emergent or forgotten thoughts and emotions that under the right circumstances are remembered. These remembered thoughts and emotions and experiences may or may not be objectively or forensically verifiable, but have a veracity for the person involved. It is this sense of truthfulness that matters and can be brought into therapy, or not.

      My work is with what is and what next emerges in my conversation with my client at that time. There is only what presents itself  in our interaction. Insights arise on both sides, for me and for her. These are insights that enrich and expand my client’s awareness, as well as my own. This contrasts with a psychoanalytic approach where the therapist sits in a position of power and decision working with what they decide is important. The client’s input is restricted to what the therapist considers important, just as the image of a solid iceberg (clearly not one melting under the impact of climate change) restricts an understanding of what consciousness is actually capable of: in this view, fixed and inflexible.

      The rolling ball view of consciousness has changed how therapy is done substantially and it has also changed how clinical hypnosis is practiced, just as a matter of interest. No longer a swinging watch on a chain, no longer a “look into my eyes,” no longer “you are going deeper and deeper,” no longer a maestro controlling a patient; instead there is now a gentle collaborative process with a recognition that the client will hear what is important to them and make meaning according to their own experience, that a good hypnotist and therapist will change the course of a therapeutic session according to what is reported by the client and what is observed as present by the therapist. Hypnosis and other forms of  non-psychoanalytic psychotherapy becomes a nurturing and change making process. 

     What emerges in therapy and hypnosis can be extraordinary and a powerful generator of change at  a habit reducing level, the level of psychological and physical pain, for managing obsessive behaviours, for lack of self confidence, and a number of other debilitating issues, as well as bringing a greater number of choices to every day life. The beauty of the rolling, rocking ball in water analogy is that we can choose, or not choose, what we want to change.

Copyright @ 3013 Dr Elizabeth McCardell