Who would study psychology unless they had some issues?!

The visitor reacted quickly, entering a state of contemplation as soon as Nan Zhubin finished the guiding words.

Nan Zhubin could tell that although it was a state of thinking, the visitor's current state was closer to "daydreaming."

And that's actually a good thing.

Usually, when faced with this part, adult visitors either show age-related embarrassment and implicitly resist a bit with the consultant; or they just go through the motions, their thinking stays superficial, writing down any random thoughts on paper.

At the moment, the visitor is in a state of cognitive shock caused by the problem Nan Zhubin pointed out.

This state is when divergent thinking is most active. This state might make it temporarily difficult to concentrate on thinking about meticulous things, but when considering simple questions, a myriad of answers will pop up one after another.

Especially as the visitor is currently in a cognitive shock regarding the "self," the divergent thinking will revolve around self-thoughts.

For two minutes, Nan Zhubin quietly watched the visitor daydream for more than a minute.

Then, the visitor's pupils regained focus, their eyes moved quickly. After blinking a few times, the visitor wrote down what they wanted to say to the [Ideal Self], and then promptly completed the content for the exchange with the [Reality Self] without pausing.

"Alright, teacher."

Nan Zhubin glanced over.

The visitor's message to the [Ideal Self] was "I'm moving farther and farther away from you."

To the [Reality Self], the message was "You had a chance to avoid all this."

OK, from the start until now, today's consultation can be considered the first step of the [Empty Chair Technique]—[Anchoring Conflict].

...

Looking at these two sentences, Nan Zhubin pointed to the two sofas in front of the visitor, or the visitor's two types of [self], and said, "Now, say these two sentences to the two 'yous' in front of you—do you still remember which is which?"

The visitor nodded to indicate they understood and then said to Nan Zhubin, "I want to say to this [Ideal Self] on the left, that I'm moving farther and farther away from him..."

After the words fell, Nan Zhubin quickly provided feedback, making a hand gesture to pause.

Nan Zhubin said, "Don't speak to me, speak to 'you'. "

This is important.

The visitor pressed their lips together, finally turning to the gray pillow on the left sofa, and said, "I'm moving farther and farther away from you."

His tone was flat, as if he were stating an answer in class.

Nan Zhubin corrected again, "No, not 'him', switch 'him' to 'you'. "

Upon hearing this, the visitor pressed their lips together again. They adjusted their posture on the sofa and unconsciously scratched the blanket twice.

After two breaths, he slowly opened, "…I'm moving farther and farther away from you."

Nan Zhubin nodded slightly in his heart, good.

He gave verbal encouragement with [Support]: "Yes, that's it, now we're officially entering this technique."

The visitor exhaled, then proactively picked up another piece of paper, addressing the green pillow on the right sofa representing the [Reality Self], "You had a chance to avoid all this."

The first stage is officially completed.

The things the visitor said to the two selves were still relatively formal in wording.

But it's okay, this is just the groundwork, the second stage is the beginning of getting into the state.

Seeing the slightly dazed look in the visitor's eyes after speaking, Nan Zhubin pinched his throat.

His voice became low, deep, and steady, like winter sunlight starting to brush upon the visitor.

[Emotion Soothing], [Emotional Infection], and all abilities that could immerse the visitor in the experience gathered in force.

"Okay, now let's look at the sofa on the left, look at that pillow."

Like a hand gently guided the side of the visitor's face, he immediately shifted his gaze to the target upon hearing the words.

Nan Zhubin said slowly, "Imagine that the 'ideal Nan Zhihao' is sitting there. If he had a form, what would he look like?"

"What kind of clothes would he wear? What kind of expression would he have? What would his posture be like?"

Under Nan Zhubin's voice guidance, the visitor showed a pensive expression.

In the process, his gaze became more fixed but also elongated.

As if an illusory person was indeed sitting on that empty sofa, being scrutinized by him.

After three breaths passed.

"He... hmm, should be wearing a white t-shirt, then outside... a casual gray blazer," the visitor slowly said, "And jeans and casual leather shoes..."

"His face should be similar to mine now... but the expression is more relaxed, the posture also very relaxed, just like... Teacher Nan, like you."

The ending remark made Nan Zhubin smile slightly.

After seeing the visitor had finished the description, Nan Zhubin pointed to the green pillow on the right sofa again: "Then if 'realistic Nan Zhihao' were sitting here, what would his form be like?"

This time, the visitor took slightly more than two or three breaths to think, but the answer was somewhat brief.

He said, "Just like me now."

"Okay," Nan Zhubin did not comment, only pushed the two sheets of paper with writing on them towards the visitor.

"Now, looking at the two 'yous' sitting on the sofa, say to them what you want to say."

The visitor reacted quickly to Nan Zhubin's words, immediately nodding to indicate understanding.

But when facing the [Ideal Self], he unconsciously hesitated: "...I... sigh, tch..."

He sighed, "...I'm moving farther and farther away from you..."

Then swiftly turned to the [Reality Self], nodding as he spoke: "...You had a chance to avoid all this."

The difference became apparent in contrast to the first "dialogue."

Nan Zhubin nodded, standing up and picking up the two sheets with writing on them.

He first placed the sheet stating "I'm moving farther and farther away from you" on the right [Reality Self] sofa, then placed the one stating "You had a chance to avoid all this" on the left [Ideal Self] sofa.

After finishing all this, Nan Zhubin took out two new A4 sheets from the folder, handing them in front of the visitor.

"Now, let's assume those two sentences were what the two 'yous' said to each other."

Nan Zhubin pointed to the two sheets: "I need you to continue to extend this dialogue. Let the left say something, the right say something, let them communicate or even debate."

"Write until you can't think of anything else, can you?"

From here, the consultation enters the third stage—[Reality Self Struggle].