I was just chatting with a group of people helpers who were telling me about the various methodologies that they employ when approaching a session with a client. They all seemed very measured and agreed it was important to have the client set an outcome and support said client to achieve that end.
Then I suggested, what if the client doesn’t know their outcome, or rather what if the conscious outcome they proclaim is in fact in direct opposition to their unconscious outcome, how can we know what our client doesn’t know?

As you can imagine the conversation took many twists and turns many arguing that it was unethical to stray from the rule book, meaning whatever discipline they were trained in and the ethical framework that supported it.

I suggested this little coaching insight that was aptly supplied by the the Bard of Avon, some years ago;

Hamlet Act 2, Scene 2,

Polonius:
What is the matter, my lord?

Hamlet:
Between who?

Polonius:
I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.

Hamlet:
Slanders, sir; for the satirical rogue says here that old men
have grey beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging
thick amber and plum-tree gum, and that they have a plentiful
lack of wit, together with most weak hams; all which, sir, though
I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty
to have it thus set down, for yourself, sir, shall grow old as I am, if
like a crab you could go backward.

Polonius:
[Aside] Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.

The English expression, “There’s a method in the madness,” derives from this scene between Polonius, the politic, and Hamlet. Polonius believes Hamlet to be mad and yet Hamlet has clearly told Polonius what he thinks of him and his master, Hamlet delivers this information in a quote so the listener doesn’t attach it to the speaker.

Polonius thinks that Hamlet is mad, yet notes that there is still a lot of sense in what he is saying, hence the saying “Method in the madness”. Now depending if you are a process driven person or an options motivated individual, in which case, “madness in the method” might appeal to you more, you can use some craziness to have different outcomes and expectations from your sessions.

Carol came into her session suffering from anxiety attacks and depression, she had been having various counseling and coaching sessions, as well as pills, for three long years; her one session full of madness later, now she has been problem and drug free for a month.

So if you’re a people helper who could do with a dash of madness in your sessions or you’re in sessions and they’re driving you mad, you know where I am, get in touch, you’d be crazy not too…

NLP practitioner training, Coaching and Hypnotherapy…

…it’s about madness!