Early Recollections Research Articles

Early Recollections, Research, and Clinical Application

Early Recollections, Research, and Clinical Application Jon Sperry and Len Sperry A previous issue (74:3) highlighted the importance of moving Individual Psychology techniques to an evidence-based status. This issue, 75:1, follows with that directive in mind, including research and theoretically focused articles that emphasize Individual Psychology as a theory that continues to prove relevant around the globe and in various settings. This issue includes three articles that examine early recollections among various populations, one article on democratic-deliberative discourse, an inspiring article by Harold Mosak and Marina Bluvshtein on faith, hope, and love, and a book review. The first article in this issue is "Democratic-Deliberative Discourse in Adlerian Israeli Parenting Classes: Ideology and Implementation," by Oryan and Ben-Asher. Through use of critical discourse analysis and case-study methodology among 12 parents, the authors examined the discourse between instructor and participants in a parenting group in Israel. They concluded that there is a need to teach parent educators about democratic-deliberative principles in Adlerian-based parenting study groups. Johnson-Migalski, Stone, Rounds, and Sesso-Osburn examine the early recollections of 56 graduate students in their article titled "Predictive Relationship Between Trait and State Anxiety and Themes in Early Recollections Using the Early Recollection Rating Scale–Revised." Among the early recollections of individuals who experience anxiety symptoms, the authors found themes indicating that these individuals often perceive danger among others and in the world, and also feel a lack of belonging that leads to withdrawal, avoidance, and passivity or freezing. This article validates Adler's (1956) notion that individuals engage in safeguarding as a means to protect themselves from feeling inferior. Frank and Shoshana seek to expand the empirical and theoretical understanding of social interest by utilizing qualitative methods in their study. [End Page 1] They collected 43 early recollections from 12 participants using semi-structured interviews in their article "'It was a kind of togetherness feeling': An Exploration of Social Interest in Early Recollections." In their qualitative analysis they found that social interest could be considered to incorporate independence, empathy, and cooperation. They support the argument that social interest can be emphasized and implemented among individuals, families, communities, and societies. The third article on early recollections in this issue is titled "Traumatic Early Recollections: Recognizing States of Reactivation and Intervention." Sauerheber and Disque offer mental health practitioners tips for recognizing when clients experience reactivated trauma states during the early recollection (ER) process. They also provide readers with strategies for de-escalating clients who have been triggered during the ER process through various grounding techniques, as well as an example of this through a case vignette. The next article is the last known publication of Harold Mosak, who died at the age of 96 on June 1, 2018. The article is titled "Faith, Hope, and Love in Psychotherapy"; it was recorded during the last few months of his life and transcribed by Marina Bluvshtein. The article offers a meaningful and interesting perspective on Mosak's view of therapeutic processes and mechanisms that he found useful in his clinical practice. The article articulates the notion that faith, hope, and love can be integrated into the Adlerian therapeutic process and also into the personal lives of mental health practitioners. The final contribution to this issue is a book review by Johnson-Migalski and Vo titled "Adlerian Psychotherapy: A Resource for Practitioners and Students." The reviewed textbook was written by Jon Carlson and Matt Englar-Carlson and published in 2017 by the American Psychological Association. In summary, all the articles in this issue extend the principles and concepts articulated by Alfred Adler and Rudolf Dreikurs. [End Page 2] Reference Adler, A. (1956). A case of anxiety neuroses. In H. L. Ansbacher & R. R. Ansbacher (Eds.), The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler: A systematic presentation in selections from his writings (pp. 276–277). New York, NY: Harper Torchbooks. Google Scholar Copyright © 2019 University of Texas Press

Predictive Relationship Between Trait and State Anxiety and Themes in Early Recollections Using the Early Recollection Rating Scale–Revised

Predictive Relationship Between Trait and State Anxiety and Themes in Early Recollections Using the Early Recollection Rating Scale–Revised

"It was a kind of togetherness feeling": An Exploration of Social Interest in Early Recollections

"It was a kind of togetherness feeling": An Exploration of Social Interest in Early Recollections

Traumatic Early Recollections: Recognizing States of Reactivation and Intervention

Traumatic Early Recollections: Recognizing States of Reactivation and Intervention

Living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): a South African narrative

BackgroundObsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a highly prevalent and debilitating psychiatric disorder known to interfere with several life domains. Yet little is known about the subjective experiences of living with OCD amongst South Africans and more so, the ways in which it impacts daily functioning and quality of life (QOL).MethodsThe aim of this study was to explore daily functioning and QOL among South African adults living with OCD. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 adults with a primary diagnosis of OCD. We used ATLAS.ti v7 to analyse the data, thematically. The study was conducted at the SU/UCT MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders in South Africa.ResultsThree key themes were identified namely, (1) realisation of OCD, (2) disruptions to daily life and (3) managing the disruptions to daily life. Participants recounted their earliest recollections of OCD, the instances when they recognised something was wrong and ways in which they came to terms with their OCD. Disruptions to daily life included poor sleep quality, inability to enjoy leisure activities which impacted on socialisation and impairment in school/work performance. Perceived social support from family members, friends and colleagues were invaluable to helping participants manage these disruptions. Further, strategies such as self-talk, diary-keeping and humour helped them cope.ConclusionWhile some individuals with OCD have found ways to cope with and accept having OCD, all participants perceived their QOL to be significantly reduced and their functioning impaired due to the condition, on multiple levels. The importance of acceptance in OCD ties in with research on the potential value of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which could form an adjunct to more conventional techniques such as Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy. The themes emanating from this study can be used to help clinicians better understand what treatment works best for patients with OCD—and whether this treatment be focused on the individual or together with close members of their microsystem, such as spouses/partners. Further these findings may potentially help to improve access, affordability and the quality of life of South Africans living with OCD from various income backgrounds.

PREGNANT WOMEN'S RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY MATERNAL BONDING: ASSOCIATIONS WITH MATERNAL-FETAL ATTACHMENT AND BIRTH CHOICES.

Recollections of own maternal care measured by parental bonding were found to be important in the pregnant woman's construction of herself as a mother. Although these recollections were studied with regard to various variables, there is a dearth of studies associated with pregnancy and childbirth. In this cross-sectional study, 341 pregnant women were recruited. Measures included a Sociodemographics-Obstetric History Questionnaire; the Childbirth Choices Questionnaire (H. Preis, M. Gozlan, U. Dan, & Y. Benyamini, 2018); the Parental Bonding Instrument (G. Parker, H. Tupling, & L.B. Brown, 1979); a question regarding the planned presence of the woman's mother at delivery; and the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (M.S. Cranley, 1981). Parental recollections of Care were associated with fewer natural birth choices (hence, a more "medicalized" delivery), lower maternal-fetal attachment, and a wish for the mother's mother to be present at the birth. Parental recollections of Encouragement of Behavioral Freedom in childhood were associated with more natural choices regarding childbirth. In addition, women with higher scores on the parental bonding Denial of Autonomy factor reported stronger maternal-fetal attachment. Thus, early recollections of experiences with caregivers as manifested in parental bonding may be a possible influence on the transition to motherhood, and working through possible difficulties associated with these recollections may improve adjustment to motherhood.

An Adlerian Analysis of “The Kid” Movie

The main inspiration of cinema is human life, and cinema is an important tool in the journey to the human inner world. Therefore, psychology, as a science which tries to understand the individuals, has always been inside the cinema. This article presents an Adlerian approach towards the movie “The Kid” which was directed by Jon Turteltaub and written by Audrey Wells. The movie was released in 2001 in Turkey. Authors of the article focus on the life of the main character, Russ with an Adlerian perspective and analyse the movie using Adlerian terms such as social interest, lifestyle, inferiority feeling and superiority striving, superiority complex, family impact, life tasks and early recollections. It has been revealed in the document analysis conducted that childhood memories have left marks on the life of the main character, Russ; that his personality is influenced by the intense inferiority he felt during his childhood and that his lifestyle, his occupation, and his interpersonal relations have been shaped according to these life events. As a result, this study shows that the movie, “The Kid”, can be used as an experimental learning material for teaching the theoretical knowledge about the Individual Psychology.

A Dance of Group Members' Lifestyles: Supervision of an Adlerian Peer Group Using Early Recollections

This article describes the process of supervision in an Adlerian peer group using early recollections (ERs) of both client and therapist. It focuses on the uniqueness of such a group and its contribution to the therapeutic process. The group is managed according to the principles of Adlerian theory, reflected in the way the group deals with the case studies brought for counseling and in the interactions among group members. Special emphasis is put on the use of the consulting therapist's ERs, as well as those of the client. This process discloses the lifestyle of both therapist and client and enables enlightening "blind spots" in the therapeutic process.

Dawn of Memories: Therapeutic Applications of an Early Recollections Interpretation Approach

As a contemporary early recollections interpretation approach, dawn of memories broadly conceptualizes the understanding of an individual's remembrances from multiple perspectives. Focusing on core themes, personality dimensions, and perceptual modalities, the model has significant implications in counseling and psychotherapy. A practitioner's empathic sensitivity enhances the capacity for accurately interpreting a client's early recollections as a projective technique.

Diversity and Social Justice: Applying Theory and Adapting Practices

Diversity and Social Justice: Applying Theory and Adapting Practices Bengü Ergüner-Tekinalp, Guest Editor, Leigh Johnson-Migalski, Guest Editor, and Susan E. Belangee, Guest Editor This special issue was born over a luncheon during the NASAP Annual Conference in Minneapolis in 2016. As we three coeditors talked about Adler’s theory and underrepresented individuals, we realized that not much had been published recently (or ever, with regard to certain populations) and that the theoretical tenets were highly relevant to multiple aspects of diversity and social justice. Discussion brought out questions of how well the theory, techniques, and assessment tools captured those experiences of diverse populations and how those needed adaptation to be more sensitive and relevant. Practitioners of Individual Psychology cannot ignore how social and political realities affect their clients’ and students’ lives. Social justice and diversity issues are not at the margins of our work; they are very much at the center. A recent example of how the larger cultural and sociopolitical climate might have an impact on our clients’ well-being is that one of the editors of this special issue, Dr. Bengu Erguner-Tekinalp, decided not to attend the 2017 NASAP conference in Canada, as she did not want to take a risk in her international travel as a noncitizen and immigrant from a majority-Muslim country. Although her country was not an identified country in the United States travel ban, she did not feel safe to travel. A simple policy change affects individuals in many unexpected ways. A person with many privileges such as skin color, gender and sexual identity, and socioeconomic status may still feel marginalized, unsafe, or not belonging because of one part of identity. Even an identity that is not as salient for an individual may become a marker for a sense of marginalization. As belonging is one of the core tenets of Individual Psychology, Adlerians do not have the luxury to ignore the social, cultural, and political realities that make belonging difficult. [End Page 1] As a constructivist, humanistic, existential, postmodern, feminist, systemic, and culturally sensitive theory, Individual Psychology is strongly positioned to provide a theoretical framework for understanding, identifying, and addressing diversity and social justice issues. The articles in this special issue discuss various multicultural, diversity, and/or social justice topics from an Adlerian perspective and examine the practices and concepts in a cultural context. The special issue took the position of intersectionality and had an inclusive viewpoint on the definition of culture. Chavez, Moore, and McDowell educate readers on the distinctive experiences of Mexican American communities and show us how to tailor treatment of parenting-reorientation using Adlerian theory. Chatters and Zalaquett’s empirical study demonstrates success in integrating acceptance of others on the basis of social interest with bullying and prejudice reduction in pre- and postoutcome analyses. Johnson-Migalski and O’Connor Drout use a case study of a White rural woman facing shoulder injury to illustrate how Adlerian theory integrates into the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health for treatment recommendations and social justice practice. Day’s article provides a case of a coaching relationship using early recollections as metaphors with an African American woman. The coaching process described in the article focuses on both individual and systemic dynamics, providing practical applications to coaches as well as therapists working with marginalized populations. Lemberger-Truelove presents the results of a phenomenological study exploring belonging, striving, and lifestyle among Black women. Intersectionality of identities is at the core of her research, and as such, the article discusses the ways Black women deal with gendered racism and how Adlerian theory can promote resilience. In their empirical study, Akdogan, Aydın, and Eken explore the contributions of inferiority feelings on attachment styles of college students in Turkey. They discuss the research results in the cultural context and gender role expectations in the Adlerian perspective. Their article offers evidence for the cross-cultural applicability of Adlerian theory and provides future research directions for cross-cultural explorations of inferiority feelings. Harless and Stoltz present a case study showing the utility of early recollections in career counseling with a high school student from a low-socioeconomic-status family. Because...

Integrating Narrative Approaches with Early Recollections to Provide Career Counseling With Low-SES Secondary Students

Because of the school focus on academics, school counselors have little time for career counseling activities for students that prepare and highlight the work–life task. Students from low-socioeconomic-status backgrounds do not have the resources or opportunities to explore their career identity using traditional methods. Therefore, it is important that school counselors provide individualized career counseling using a narrative approach to help such students address the work–life task and develop a clear career identity. Adding a narrative approach that includes the use of early recollections enhances traditional career counseling practices by emphasizing students’ strengths, adaptability, flexibility, and lifelong learning to adapt to the world of work in the 21st century.

A Case Study: Claiming Equity Using Early Story and Metaphor

Coaching provides a useful approach for gaining the trust and balance needed to tackle difficult issues, including structural racism and equity. Adlerian practices lend themselves to effectively support the client and the coach in seeking and sustaining personal well-being and wholeness required for addressing equity issues. Use of two story-based methods proved valuable for assisting a client with movement: external stories that compare tragic and transformational characters to relevant client experiences, and internal ones, early recollection stories that reveal limiting and expansive patterns and behaviors and offer personal metaphors as guides. The method known as “story + mastery = more” offered the client greater focus, clarity, and direction and led to a new place of personal power and strength for both client and coach in their equity work.

Spousal recollections of early signs of primary progressive aphasia.

Although primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is characterized by progressive loss of language and communication skills, knowledge about the earliest emerging signs announcing the onset of this condition is limited. To explore spousal recollections regarding the earliest signs of PPA and to compare the nature of the earliest perceived symptoms across the three PPA variants. In-depth interviews focusing on the earliest signs of illness onset were conducted with 13 spouses whose partners were diagnosed with PPA. The earliest recollections and observations described by the spouses were analyzed and coded according to the DSM-5 criteria for a mild neurocognitive disorder. These data were then compared across and within each of the three PPA variants. Spousal retrospective accounts indicated the three PPA variants (semantic, logopenic and non-fluent) had a signature profile announcing illness onset. Changes in social cognition presented in all three variants of PPA, but at different points in the illness trajectory. In particular, the findings suggest the possibility that PPA initially presents as subtle changes in social cognition for semantic variant PPA (svPPA) and logopenic variant PPA (IvPPA) rather than overt language impairments as defined in the current diagnostic criteria. Understanding the nature of symptoms perceived in the earliest stages of PPA has potential to inform earlier and accurate diagnosis and interventions to assist those living with the illness.

Relational Entitlement, Early Recollections of Parental Care, and Attachment Orientation

The present study examined whether inadequate parental care has a long-term impact on pathological relational entitlement in romantic relations, and whether this impact is mediated by insecure attachment style. Our cohort of 335 Israeli adults completed Sense of Relational Entitlement (SRE), Experience in Close Relationships (ECR), and Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) questionnaires. The results generally supported our hypotheses. Avoidant attachment style fully and negatively mediated the link between maternal adequate care and SRE total entitlement. Anxious attachment style fully and negatively mediated the link between PBI paternal adequate care and SRE total entitlement. Women were found to report more relational entitlement. These results support the notion that pathological relational entitlement has its roots in recollections of early parental care and attachment experiences. The results of the study are discussed in the context of adult attachment and romantic relationships.

How career construction counseling promotes reflection and reflexivity: Two case studies

This study examined which components of the process and content of counseling for career and self-construction fostered reflection and reflexivity in two clients. The study used the Interpersonal Process Recall procedure and client descriptions of important moments to investigate client reactions to counseling. The goal was to identify which components of the counseling content and process prompted client reflection about the past and present as well as reflexivity about the future. The most important content was the discussion of role models and early recollections. The most important process was revisiting past thoughts and actions, suggesting how past stories related to the present situation, and empathic responding to deep emotions.

Narrative career counseling: My career story and pictorial narratives

The present article addresses the questions of what changes during narrative-informed career interventions and what prompts client reflection. We interrogated two case studies that both used the interventions of Pictorial Narratives (Taylor & Santoro, 2016) and My Career Story (Savickas & Hartung, 2012). Being heard and validated were elements that prompted client change through increased reflexivity and agency. And, reflexivity and agency were fostered by encouraging clients to consider the contrast between problem and preferred pictorials and to connect the perspective from early recollections to possibilities in a reconstructed career narrative. This pair of contrasting symbols prompted deep sense-making and new realizations that primed purposeful actions in the real world to reconstruct career and life. In addition to addressing the questions posed by the organizers, this article describes how the Pictorial Narrative methods, when used in career counseling, can been integrated with the My Career Story workbook to enhance client reflection and agency. The two case examples illustrate this unique integration of constructionist career counseling interventions.

Critical moments in career construction counseling

An important research need concerns identifying and describing factors that promote reflexivity and change in life-design career interventions. Career construction counseling, a primary life-design intervention, uses narrative methods in an interpersonal process of helping people design a work life through reflexive action. Using Interpersonal Process Recall (IPR), the present study examined what prompts reflexivity and change in career construction counseling. A single case analysis method involving a 24-year old Caucasian woman examined one client's experience of processes that prompted change and reflection about her current career transition. Post-counseling IPR with the client of her videotaped career construction counseling session indicated five major themes: (a) role models prompt identity reflection, (b) early recollections foster cohesion, (c) follow-up questions add depth to the story, (d) counselor as audience provides clarity and validation, and (e) career construction interview questions illuminate perspective and need for action. Results support prior research indicating the usefulness of career construction counseling for promoting reflexive action in life design.

Compatibility of the Relationship of Early Recollections and Life Style with Parent Schemas Obtained Through Adlerian Interviews

Several psychology theories have underlined the impact of childhood experiences on the rest of one's life, indicating that these early recollections and experiences have a lasting effect on the years that follow. The impact of early life events on an individual during subsequent years, even its relationship to potential psychological problems, continues to be the subject of much research. In particular, relationships established in one's immediate environment and related early recollections can influence in many aspects one's tendency towards depression, trust in life, tendency to create close relationships with others, anger, and so on (Matos, Gouveia, & Duarte, 2015; Richter, Gilbert, & McEwan, 2009). In recent years, research particularly in neuroscience has revealed that qualifying interactions created with caregivers in early development have a significant impact on the neurological development of the brain (Panksepp, 1998). The research shows that there is a positive relationship between recalling parental behaviors and recollecting positive emotional memories; in fact, positive emotional recollections are predictors in psychopathology (Richter et al., 2009). Similarly, memories of being neglected, rejected, and embarrassed, or experiences of being abused and criticized in early childhood impair brain development and lead to reactions of stress by triggering anxiety and fear in an individual (Eisenberger, 2011; Gilbert, Cheung, Grandfield, Campey, & Irons, 2003; Perry, 2002).As one of the theoreticians who emphasized the importance of early childhood experiences, as well as establishing a system to handle early childhood memories, Adler believed that one's perceptions of early childhood experiences also have an important impact on the rest of one's life (Jones-Smith, 2014). Instead of the individual's experiences and others' behaviors in recollected events, focusing instead on the individual's perceptions regarding these experiences provides many more clues. For example, while an individual might perceive his parents as negligent but is able to overcome this situation, another individual might recollect his parents' kindness but still have a feeling of not belonging (Gilbert et al., 2003). According to Adler, everyone develops a life plan by 5 or 6 years of age, and this plan (called life style) guides one's entire life, including the perceptions of the world and one's actions (Jones-Smith, 2014).Having integrated content, this life style involves information about how to deal with the self, handle problems, and carry out interpersonal relations (Bienenfeld, 2005). Life style is a major key to behavior. It contains one's goals, self-opinions, world-opinions, and the habitual behaviors used to achieve desired outcomes. An individual's view of self, others, and the universe forms a personal filter for all future experiences (Jones-Smith, 2014).In general, the experiences involved in early recollections seem to be associated with the tendencies that are dominant in one's current life. Early recollections present one with a life story that is continuously recurring and leads to stimulating or relieving effects at times; it sometimes inspires and helps one focus on life goals and face the future through a currently tried structure under the light of the past (Barrett, 1980; Kaplan, 1985; Maree, 2013). Cochran (cited in Maree, 2013, p. 5) stated that one or more of an individual's early recollections present the first prototypes of one's life scenario. For instance, if the first narrative contains danger or punishment, this can lead to lifetime of hostile feelings in the individual. Early recollection regarding the birth of a new sibling can give one a feeling of losing the throne (Jones-Smith, 2014). Adlerian therapy regards clients' early recollections as their primary instrument of assessment. Basically, clients are asked to think back as far as possible and talk about their early recollections, their age at the time, what kind of an event it was, and their feelings regarding this event. …

Envy in Siblings-in-Law Relationships

We focus on the issue of envy in siblings-in-law relationships, beginning with a literature review that encompasses two topics: Envy, which is a symptom of a more fundamental process of acute lack of socialization, and the use of early recollections (ERs), which is an Adlerian therapeutic effective method. We explore a case study that includes a full family constellation and client ERs, because the client’s lifestyle and strategies, which are the sources of her pain, show her ways to connect. We further detail intervention processes using the ERs and dreams.

Corporate Style of Life: An Adlerian Conceptualization Told in a Personal Account

Corporate Style of Life:An Adlerian Conceptualization Told in a Personal Account Allan Cox (bio), Eva Dreikurs Ferguson (bio), Linda J. Page, and Eva Dreikurs Ferguson, Column Editors In the working environment, relations among people can be far more complex than in other spheres of human life. The focus of this column is to show how the ideas and methods of Individual Psychology are useful in the workplace as well as to compare Adlerian methods with other approaches. Individual dynamics as well as organizational and group dynamics issues are discussed in detail. Potential contributors are encouraged to submit manuscripts, including case studies, illustrating the application of Individual Psychology to business and organizational settings. Send manuscripts to Linda J. Page, Adler International Learning, 890 Yonge Street, 9th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3P4, Canada, ljpage@adler.ca. The concept of style of life is central to the way Alfred Adler (1939, 1952, 1959) described personality. As described by Ferguson (2015, p. 2), lifestyle refers to “a person’s long-term orientation over his or her life span … to a person’s basic concepts of self and others and to the person’s basic life goal.” Lifestyle is the core of personality, shaped in the early years of childhood. Adlerian-trained psychotherapists and counselors working with an individual understand that a client’s lifestyle shapes the way the individual feels, thinks, and functions (Dreikurs, 2000). Through therapy, lifestyles can change. Moreover, if parents raise their children with democratic shared decision making, the child will develop a lifestyle that even in adulthood has resilience, courage, and high social interest (Dreikurs, 2010). [End Page 333] Because groups also tend to have characteristics that an individual has, one can think of a corporation as having a corporate style of life that contains core beliefs of self, in terms of self-identity, and a long-term goal. Allan Cox describes (in personal communication, 2015) that an individual’s lifestyle can be structured in the following way: I am: (self-image) Life is: (world view) My central goal: (the all-powerful one that shapes my every thought and action, that pulls me like a magnet into the future) Allan Cox learned the Adlerian diagnostic approach to identifying an individual’s lifestyle, including the use of early recollections (Ferguson, 1964; Mosak, 1958). The present article describes a model developed by Allan Cox for helping corporations realize their best potential by using concepts and methods that are key in Adlerian psychology: style of life (SOL), early recollections, and social interest (Adler, 1939). Please note all names used within are pseudonyms. Throughout the bulk of my 50-year career as a management consultant and author who specializes in working closely with CEOs and their top teams, I have turned implicitly and explicitly to these lights for guidance. Let me explain with a personal story. Late summer, 1976, on a client assignment, I was having dinner alone in a Philadelphia hotel dining room. I got to thinking about early recollections and chided myself for never having “translated” my own to myself. So then and there over about an hour, I did so using the Dreikurs format and came up with my SOL in seven words, avoiding business jargon or psychological language: I am: an observer Life is: out there My central goal: to be invited What clarity this brought me. What brevity. What insight. What power to understand myself! My conclusion was that, without being aware of it, I was living a passive, compromised life. I made changes and found strength in reclaiming much of myself that I had buried by means of what Adler termed the creative self—the life making me, for better or worse. There was much more evolution from there over several years to the point where my stabilized SOL became: I am: a laser Life is: full of baffles My central goal: to get to the core An SOL in 10 words that I’m fully aware of and is my guardian presence. [End Page 334] In a course called “Family Constellation” at the Adler School of Professional Psychology—taught by the late psychiatrist Bina Rosenberg—I learned the power and method of early recollections. After my...