Rog (Lucy): Instructions

AUDIO: (No audio)

Response Options:

• Great! Let's do the full pre-session check to make sure I'm ready for the session.

• I'm familiar with what is needed and I am in shape physically for the session. I've set up the session environment. Let's go!

• Lemme outta here!

Notes

Self-discipline needed

It is easier to benefit from a Rog (or any PaulsRobot) session if you know what to expect and are prepared for it. It has been made as easy as possible for you, but you will have to use some degree of self-discipline in order to be successful. More so than with a human counsellor, because there is no-one in the room with you to keep you in the session doing what you should be doing.

Preparations before the session

Before doing a Rog session, it is important to prepare for the session, not so much mentally but physically. This means:

having had enough rest and sleep so that you are not physically tired at the time of the session
having had enough nutritious food so that you are well-fed
not being under the influence of drugs or alcohol
having enough time for the session
being in an environment relatively free from distractions, i.e., no kids or pets running around, no sudden loud noises, no people looking over your shoulder etc.
being willing to follow the instructions given.

Not a luxury

These requirements may seem like a luxury, but a session may fail simply because one or more of them has not been adequately met. An obvious example would be if you are drunk and cannot focus your attention at all, but each of the above factors is important. They are not absolute, but should be kept in mind, and taken care of as best as you can before a session. There are more details on these points in the relevant pre-session pages.

Your "topic"

What you will be addressing in a PaulsRobot session is called your "topic." It is whatever you wish to address, whether lightweight or heavy. Rog tends to work better on heavier topics than lighter ones. However, it's your choice.

Notes (continued)

Follow the instructions!

PaulsRobot in general, and Rog in particular, are 21st century developments. They are new, and unfamiliar. The more you ignore the instructions and try to wing it, the worse the session will go. Similarly, the more familiar you are with the procedures and what you are supposed to be doing, the better the session will go.

When all else fails, follow the instructions

Really.

Written session plans

Before starting the session you should have a written session plan. Here are some examples of doable ones. A session plan is a strategic plan for the session that is best worked out in the calm before the session and not in mid-session during the "heat of battle," so to speak.

Session end point

The point at which you should end off the session is covered in the Rog session end point page. You can always have further sessions later on, but often a session will not go so well if it is continued past its natural ending point.

Shutting down

If you feel yourself suddenly shutting down (starting to go to sleep and feeling mentally foggy as a result of heavy sensory/emotional charge being stirred up, not from lack of sleep or eating too much), recognize it as such. Hit the shutting down link visible on most of the session pages for a quick and effective remedy. Note that you have to DO the remedy at that point, not merely read about it!

You will still have to reduce the heavy charge with the ongoing session actions, but you will have successfully dealt with that effect of it for now.

What is helpful and what is not

Not so helpful

Sitting and *thinking* at length about your topic is not really very therapeutic. Nor is getting lost in writing a huge long "paragraph" about your topic. Most people have been chewing on their concerns for months or years without too much benefit.

Bite-sized chunks

What is helpful is getting on with doing this session procedure with Rog, broken down into bite-sized chunks measured in a minute or so once you have read the notes and are familiar with the procedure.