Carin and Matt are tired. In their seventies, both semi-retired social workers, I have been working with them for about 3 years, and recently they have been dealing with some personal health issues. Nothing life-threatening, but both have had to have procedures, and they are exhausted from recovering, working, and providing ongoing emotional support of their 3 adult children. 
 
When I ask them what they want to accomplish in today’s session, they reply; Self-care.
 
This makes complete sense given how they feel, and it would be easy just to be psycho-educational and directive: Get more sleep, exercise, eat well, take some naps, take a day off, watch a good show…But the reality is they counsel others about these steps and they feel stuck in the current pooped-out malaise.  
 
I have learned over the years from Jeff Zeig, that one cannot treat a category. And Self-Care is a big one.  I decide to listen for the component phenomena of what self-care actually means to them, what would have heuristic value beyondtypically recommended corrections. As we discuss, they tell me about their dear friend just dx’d with breast cancer, the difficulties they are having sleeping at night, and the way they feel stuck in routines that are not pepping them up, and how wearying it is to be hearing about and seeing pictures of the war in Ukraine.
 
I continue to scan my own thought process as I listen to theirs. In my inner narrative the word energy pops into mind. But that is a large concept too. Energy itself has a phenomenology. 

Somewhat stumped I let me mind drift off a bit, and it goes to my own sadness about the war, and the fear of it becoming atomic. Almost instantly, I remember being perked up this week by a video of the president of Ukraine dancing on dancing with the stars. It seems absurd, but my intuition is putting some ideas together, and I am thinking sub-atomic particles moving around.

What could they be doing? I decide that I will suggest that they might visualize two atomic particles dancing. When I do, it is the first time they belly laugh in this session, which is something they usually do a lot as they entertain each other and me.
 
I’ve been working with them a long time, and they know my intuitive tendencies; they maintain that they are purely practical, factual and psycho-dynamic, but they are laughing now and I am observing energy.
 
“Here she goes again!!” Carin says laughing as she looks at Matt. He starts to laugh as she says, ”But don’t worry, she does this. She’ll get somewhere.”  I am however wondering—where will I go with this?”
 
Matt says: “So Bette, what are they doing while they are dancing?”
 
After a brief gulp in my inner mind, it comes to me—“They are making matter.”
 
Carin says;  “See I told you! She usually goes somewhere with these weird ideas.”
 
Looking at Carin with an understanding in his wise blue eyes, Matt says, “Yes, we need to focus on what matters right  now.”  
 
When Carin immediately acknowledges this, the Focus becomes on what matters the most to them, and how will they bring what is most important into the present time frame. The typical recommendations are discussed as They bring them up, along with ideas of gratitude and staying in the moment, and feeling a sense of peacefulness for what they have and that they are “not being bombed.” 
 
The session ends with smiles, laughter and both agreeing that they feel less tired and more ready to go about the day.