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

Chapter 322 Freedom of Choice and Responsibility

now.

Even without micro-expression analysis, it's clear from Ms. Zhao's expression at this moment that she has been impacted.

She then fell into a deep silence to process the shock.

Nan Zhuren observed Teacher Zhao's reaction and confirmed that she had been thinking while she was silent, and that her thinking was forward-looking.

He didn't expect Teacher Zhao to figure it out immediately, and felt that "letting students sleep in class is indeed an effective intervention method."

However, as long as her thinking starts to shift in this direction, and she no longer regards "the quality of psychological counseling" as the sole criterion for measuring whether the work is meaningful.

That was the biggest success of this supervision and consultation.

At the same time, Nan Zhuren also began to recall and evaluate the progress of this supervision and consultation.

Given the current progress of Nan Zhuren and Teacher Zhao, the amount of content being discussed is equivalent to what is typically found in the second, third, or even fourth consultation with a client.

And this is only their first consultation.

Its development has been remarkably rapid.

It is precisely because professionals readily accept this approach that Nan Zhuren uses this almost "knowledge dumping" method to provide consultations.

But no matter how fast it goes, the time is almost up.

Nan Zhuren glanced at the wall clock; before she knew it, the minute hand had almost completed a full circle.

He looked at Teacher Zhao again. The young teacher in front of him had a thoughtful expression that said, "I am gradually understanding everything." Although he was still a little hesitant, his eyes were more determined than before.

Nan Zhuren said softly, "We're almost done with our time, but... there's still one small question about you that hasn't been explored yet."

“I don’t know when our next ‘conversation’ will take place, so I can’t postpone it like I would with a regular visitor. At the very least, I need to come up with a solution before this conversation ends.”

As mentioned before, they are not real counselors or clients at this moment.

While it could be loosely described as peer supervision or even supervision, there are still interfering factors involved.

In fact, Nan Zhuren herself didn't want to start another consultation-like conversation in this manner. Later, as she spent more and more time with Teacher Zhao at work, even the quality of her supervision was affected by their working relationship.

Fortunately, Teacher Zhao in front of us is a professional herself, and she fully understands and can tolerate Nan Zhuren's current actions.

Nan Zhuren said, "When I recommended the existentialist school to you before, I actually wanted to recommend that you study it yourself. The existentialist school originated from philosophy and is itself a method suitable for self-reflection."

"Now, regarding your last question, I will tell you the principle of an existentialist technique, and then you can try to intervene in yourself."

“If you have any questions in the middle, you can come and talk to me anytime—I mean really talk, not like our current situation…” Nan Zhuren said, gesturing to the surrounding environment.

Teacher Zhao nodded in understanding.

……

In the short time it took to say those few words, they had already withdrawn from the consultation mode.

The conversation became more relaxed and comfortable.

It really felt like a conversation. "Teacher Nan, what technique are you going to teach me?" Teacher Zhao asked curiously.

It was originally intended to be used in the third stage of the consultation—the analysis of freedom and responsibility.

"In the process of you describing the problem, in addition to feeling that your work is meaningless, you also had negative emotions because your superiors assigned you miscellaneous tasks, which prevented you from doing your job, right?"

Nan Zhuren first summarized the previous points.

Teacher Zhao nodded.

“Regarding the point about ‘being unable to do your job,’ first, we can use the previous method of ‘meaning reconstruction’ again to redefine what exactly constitutes your ‘job.’ This can alleviate a large part of your anxiety,” Nan Zhuren said. “You can think of this as an assignment, and I believe you now have new thoughts.”

Teacher Zhao continued nodding intently.

"But if we look at your statement again using the analysis of freedom and responsibility, we can find that in this statement—"

Nan Zhuren held up one finger: "It's completely 'passive,' you subconsciously ignored your own 'freedom.'"

“You were assigned miscellaneous tasks by your supervisor, and therefore lost the ‘freedom’ to do your actual job.”

Upon hearing Nan Zhuren's words, Teacher Zhao pursed her lips.

"but--"

The basic idea of ​​existentialism is that people have a minimum level of freedom under all circumstances, and that people have the right to choose at all times, while therefore having to accept the consequences of their choices.

“Even ‘not choosing’ is actually a kind of ‘choice’,” Nan Zhuren said meaningfully.

This statement carries a slightly accusatory tone, as if it's telling Teacher Zhao, "You brought all the suffering upon yourself."

But the deeper meaning is to tell the other party that you actually still have the power to resist, but you have simply ignored it.

This is to awaken the hidden psychological energy of Teacher Zhao.

……

Sure enough, after a few breaths of hesitation...

Teacher Zhao slowly began to speak:
“If other friends or family members said this to me, I would definitely argue with them… ‘What do you know? That’s how it is for tenured teachers. I don’t have the right to refuse my superiors.’”

“But facing you, Teacher Nan…” Teacher Zhao sighed, “Indeed, I just didn’t make up my mind to refuse and accept the consequences of refusing.”

Nan Zhuren nodded: "That's the first point, you have the 'freedom to choose'."

He held up his second finger: "Secondly, when you are truly faced with a situation where you have no choice, or a situation where you cannot bear the consequences of other choices—although you no longer have the 'freedom to choose,' you have the 'freedom to change your attitude.'"

Teacher Zhao blinked.

"This..." Her voice faltered, "It's kind of like how some teachers ask students who hate math to come to like it, is that what they mean...?"

Nan Zhuren waved his hand: "That's just a trick that seems to give you a choice, but actually only gives you a mandatory option. In a sense, it's even a kind of toxic motivational rhetoric. Unless the teacher can come up with a real way to make students like math, just shouting or making the demand that 'you can like math' is just a rogue's statement."

(End of this chapter)