Who would study psychology if they didn't have some kind of problem?

Chapter 269 [Tactile Anchors]

Li Minglu also seemed to sense something at this moment.

He unconsciously rubbed the small wooden block on his wrist again.

"Teacher Nan, you keep letting me touch my bracelet, is there some kind of meaning behind that?"

I'm glad you noticed that.

Nan Zhuren nodded.

"First of all, your bracelet is now a tactile anchor."

"Some special tactile stimuli have the property of relaxing the body. For example, the fluff on a blanket, the sand on a beach, and—the little wooden block on your bracelet."

“When performing emotional memory rewriting, touching a tactile anchor can help you relax more quickly.”

Nan Zhuren first explained one of the principles.

"Secondly, I also want to use this small wooden block to establish a conditioned reflex."

Li Minglu couldn't help but look at his wrist, his fingers tightening around the small wooden block: "A conditioned reflex?"

Nan Zhuren nodded.

"Your current mindset is actually prone to developing in a negative direction—I believe you are aware of this yourself."

"You want to change this way of thinking, but this has become an inertia, even a habit, over the years. You don't have enough willpower to change it on your own."

Li Minglu agreed, and this was precisely the problem he urgently needed to solve.

"Therefore, when you are thinking, you need some suitable external stimuli to pull your thoughts back in time when they habitually turn to the negative."

Nan Zhuren also looked at Li Minglu's wrist: "When we're in the consultation room, I'll act as the external stimulus—and when we're outside of the consultation, we'll rely on it."

As he spoke, Nan Zhuren reached out and lightly tapped the small wooden block on Li Minglu's wrist from a distance.

"Tactile anchors can help soothe the mind. In the process just now, I had you touch them more frequently during the deconstruction of details and reconstruction of events, which allows them to connect with your new way of thinking."

In the design of many film and television characters or artistic works, there are often descriptions such as "turning the ring while thinking" or "touching the necklace and starting to think". These are all designed based on the principle of "tactile anchor".

It is scientific.

Even simplified actions like "touching the bridge of the nose" or "touching the chin" follow the same principle.

Nan Zhuren went a step further, suggesting that when Li Minglu touched the bracelet, it wasn't just to "help him think," but rather to "engage in specific thinking based on a certain line of thought."

Nan Zhuren smiled and said, "In general psychological counseling, the counselor may provide a substitute such as a rubber band."

"But since you already have your own favorite bracelet, and it just so happens to be such a meaningful piece of jewelry, then the effect will be even better."

Li Minglu nodded as if he understood but not quite.

Anyway, it's always a good idea to touch your bracelet more often when you're thinking.

At this point, the first "emotional memory rewriting" has been completed.

The relevant theoretical knowledge and principles have been fully absorbed by Li Minglu through the first demonstration.

The next step is to try to get Li Minglu to independently rewrite his emotional memories without the direct help of a counselor.

Nan Zhuren glanced at the wall clock: "We still have a lot of time left, and we should be able to perform one or two more [Emotional Memory Rewriting] operations."

"Next, I need you to recall something that will probably make you feel uncomfortable at around [scale 7]..."

Li Minglu pursed his lips.

Guided by Nan Zhuren, he lowered his eyes and began to recall.

……

This consultation was Nan Zhuren's last at the Yannuo Psychological Center.

Although it has been confirmed that he will continue to mentor Li Minglu, to be honest, Nan Zhuren does not yet have a confirmed work location.

The next consultation time was also unknown. Therefore, Nan Zhuren deliberately extended the consultation time to the maximum of one hour.

The goal is to help Li Minglu master new ways of thinking as much as possible.

At the same time, through my support and active attention, I can provide Li Minglu with sufficient mental energy so that he won't be exhausted by life too quickly before the next consultation.

Time passed by, second by second.

"Alright, the emotional memory rewriting for [Scale 10] is now complete, and today's consultation is almost over."

Nan Zhuren smiled.

Upon hearing these concluding remarks, Li Minglu's face showed deep reluctance.

For him, it seems that only during this short time in the consultation room is he truly at ease.

But Li Minglu himself is a person with considerable mental strength. No matter how reluctant he is, he can understand what situation is best for him.

He said gratefully, "I will need to trouble you again, Professor Nan. Please contact me as soon as the time and place are confirmed."

Nan Zhuren shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this: "No, this state is actually very unprofessional... I'm the one who's caused you a lot of trouble."

As he said this, Nan Zhuren glanced at the wall clock.

“We have a few minutes left, and I want to bring the conversation back to your life.”

Nan Zhuren pointed out a key point that she was very concerned about.

“You said before that you were planning to separate from your wife.”

Li Minglu nodded.

From a cognitive perspective, this is good news. It means that Li Minglu has gotten rid of his previous unrealistic fantasies.

However, from the perspective of treatment intervention, there seems to be another layer of danger—

Nan Zhuren asked directly, "After the separation, are you planning to live alone?"

Li Minglu immediately shook his head: "I understand what you're worried about, Teacher Nan—it's definitely not that."

“A few of my former roommates from school set up a studio. Unlike me, they didn’t get married as early, and they usually live together in the studio. They had invited me to join them before, but I had never agreed.”

"I plan to spend some time with them this time..."

That puts people at ease.

Nan Zhuren nodded slightly: "If possible, you can have one of them accompany you for the consultation next time, and then add my assistant's contact information."

"sure……"

That concludes the consultation.

Sudden.

Thump thump thump—click!
The door to the consultation room opened without prior notice.

Nan Zhuren's brows furrowed deeply.

what's the situation?
Shen Bing? Impossible.

I have already told the other party not to come in and disturb me, no matter how long their consultation takes today.

Or did Howard lose his temper and want to make his presence felt at this moment?

Nan Zhuren stared at the door.

Then, an unexpected yet perfectly logical face appeared at the door.

Wang Sui cautiously peered into the consultation room: "Teacher Nan? Alu?"

(End of this chapter)