(Developed by Steve Andreas)
Step 1: Install this strategy in a dissociated state. “See yourself out there in front of you. This
is the you who is about to learn a new way to respond to criticism.” Do whatever you
need to do to maintain the dissociation: see yourself far away, in black and white, behind
plexiglass, etc.
Step 2: Dissociate from the Criticism. “That you is about to be criticized. Watch and listen as
s/he gets criticized and instantly dissociates.” There are several ways for her/him to
dissociate. One is for him/her to actually see him/herself being criticized, or see the
critical words being printed out in a cartoon balloon, be surrounded by a plexiglass
shield, etc.
Step 3: Make a dissociated representation of the content of the criticism. “Watch her/him, as
s/he makes a movie of what the criticizer is saying. What does this person mean?” Does
s/he have enough information to make a clear and detailed representation?
• If no – watch and listen as s/he gathers information.
• If yes – proceed.
Step 4: Evaluate the Criticism. “Watch as s/he compares his/her own representation of the
event with the information she gathered in step 3.
• Do the movies match or mismatch?
• If they don’t – watch her back up to gather more information.
• If yes, or when complete information has been gathered – proceed.
Step 5: Decide on a response (after s/he paces whatever part of their criticism s/he agrees with).
• Apology, restitution.
• “I’ll give it some serious thought.”
• “I see things differently…”
• “What I intended was…”, etc.
Step 6: Change behavior due to Criticism? Does s/he want to use the information s/he got
from this criticism to act differently in the future? If so, watch her/him:
• select new behavior/response, and
• future-pace this new response.
Step 7: Ecology check. “As you saw yourself go through this strategy, did you notice any
problems, or any way in which you want to modify the process?” “Ask the “you out
there” if she noticed any problems, or has any other concerns.” “Ask her if she
understands this method for responding to criticism well enough to automatically use it
any time in the future that you receive criticism.” Deal with any such concerns.
Step 8: Re-associate with the “you” that learned this strategy. “Thank this part of you for
being a special resource for you in this way, and then actually reach out with your arms
to slowly and gently bring this part back into you, so that the knowledge of this part
becomes fully a part of you, and available to you in the future.”
Note: You may also want to install this strategy in response to praise or flattery.
