What is process work?
Process-oriented psychology (process psychology, process work, POP, dreambody work) is a fairly new and interesting therapeutic method developed by Dr. Arnold Mindell, an American therapist of the Jungian school, and his colleagues in the seventies of the last century.
Process work is a modern method of psychological work with people in various states of consciousness. In his original theory of process-oriented psychology, Arnold Mindell combines concepts from various sources: Taoist philosophy, C.G.Jung's analytical psychology, information theory, role theory, communication and system approaches in therapy. A variety of threads and inspirations are combined in a very simple and coherent process theory. In Arnold Mindell's books we find numerous references and metaphors from the field of physics, with the help of which the creator of the new approach in therapy convinces us of the need to change the paradigm in psychology – he proposes, among others, thinking in terms of a process instead of a state, and introduces a concept of the field. An inseparable element of Arnold Mindell's theory is also the concept of deep democracy and the postulate of working with minorities.
Process work represents the phenomenological trend in therapy. A process-oriented therapist examines the subjective world of the other person, helping them find patterns, meanings hidden in the seemingly random world of experiences and problems of everyday life, dreams, bodily symptoms, relationships, and altered states of consciousness. When working with a couple, family, or group, it is important that the therapist learns how people experience and describe reality or their problems in their own, unique way. Process work uses a variety of therapeutic techniques that allow working with both verbal material and through movement or using body experiences. Looking at the work of a process-oriented therapist, one can find elements resembling the actions of a gestalt therapist, techniques used by a Jungian analyst, elements of psychodrama as well as methods used in behavioral-cognitive therapy. Process work is a successful synthesis of various therapeutic work techniques and at the same time does not lose its internal consistency by referring to its basic concept of the process and terms taken from information theory.
