Holographic Reprocessing

Based upon the theorey of Epstien’s Cognitive-experiential theory, Dr Katz developed a psychotherapy model called Holographic Reprocessing (HR) (see Katz, 2001; Katz, 2005) which provides a foundation for Warrior Renew.

A brief explanation is that HR addresses patterns that can occur in people’s lives and relationships. The treatment includes identifying interpersonal patterns called “experiential holograms" that become reinforced with repeated experiences. Positive new experiences weaken old patterns, and set the stage to create new more healthy ones.

If you could meet your younger self,

what would you say? What would you do?

Practice of Holographic Reprocessing therapy

HR is practiced in three steps: 1) Identifying patterns, 2) Cognitive shifts and holistic reappraisals, and 3) Reprocessing using imagery.

Through the process of HR, the therapist and client work to identify patterns of emotional, cognitive, and behavioral psychodynamics. These patterns are termed “experiential holograms” based on a model and concept of a hologram. In a hologram, the whole is contained in the parts. In HR, an identified theme (whole) is evident across a multitude of interpersonal contacts (parts). Therefore, examining one relationship reveals emotional themes that are consistent throughout a person’s life.

In addition, HR explores the ways in which a person may repeat these themes. How a person interprets events in a relationship is projected onto others, who then serve to co-create the dynamic, oftentimes reenacting their own patterns. These perceptions set in motion emotional, cognitive, and behavioral tendencies wherein people unconsciously replicate similar types of relationships that reinforce their worldview (e.g., attempts to avoid the hurt inadvertently replicate it).

Mapping the components of experiential holograms helps clients feel validated, and make sense of their feelings and behavior. This helps clients understand and feel that their seemingly unreasonable behavior actually makes perfect sense, given their life experiences (e.g., “Of-course you were attentive to others, that was your way to have some control and protect yourself from violence, and of-course you felt worthless and unimportant because your parents were so consumed with their own needs that they neglected yours”). When clients understand why they might behave the way they do, they can begin the process of changing their feelings and behaviors that are no longer helpful or constructive.

One of the key techniques in HR to produce change is for clients to examine themselves and trauma-related circumstances in its own context. This moves the conceptualization of the trauma experience from something personal (e.g., it happened because of the client) to a conceptualization that includes other people’s agendas and motives distinct from anything about the client. These cognitive shifts occur by considering context, multiple points of view, understanding what happened with hindsight advantage, and from the perspective of one’s current age.

Clients can see that other people played a role in making events happen, regardless of what the client did or didn't do. Often self-blame is a way of grieving, as if he or she could have changed outcomes. But in reality, the event happened because of someone else and it had nothing to do with the client.

Reprocessing

Once the therapist and client has a sufficient understanding of the client’s pattern, the client may be ready for reprocessing the hologram. HR uses a low-arousing method of revisiting a formative event (e.g., representative of the person’s hologram). In reprocessing, participants do not revisit acts of trauma that are fear-inducing or unsafe, as this is not an exposure treatment (e.g., revisiting is not for desensitization). The imagery is to facilitate a holistic reappraisal and insight. Clients remain anchored as their current aged self (who is in the here-and-now and is safe and in the therapy office) and imagine that they can observe their younger version of the self. 

Some clients prefer to view the imagery as if it were on a television screen. The scene is viewed and described from the third person (“She walked across the room…”). The objective vantage point, allows clients to consider a larger context for the event, which facilitates broad cognitive reappraisals.

Clients imagine themselves “stepping into” the scene as their current-aged self to say or do what they want. This may or may not include removing or confronting the perpetrator. But invariably does include offering empathy, understanding, and compassion to the younger version of the self (e.g., hugging the younger self and saying words such as “you’re safe now,” “it was not your fault,” “I will protect you,” “you are important and your needs matter”). This is typically an emotional experience for clients and produces an experiential shift (e.g., clients feel safe, loved, and protected). Clients direct the imagery and are able to address their own unmet emotional needs. Reprocessing imagery can be tailored to address the patient’s specific hologram. For example, if a patient has a hologram of “endangerment” then the imagery might address safety.