Ingredients of an Interaction

I have taught a University of Wisconsin Student Union Mini Course covering Virginia Satir's model for our internal communication process called Ingredients of an Interaction. The course description is as follows:

Have you ever been puzzled by your own reaction to someone else in conversation? Perhaps you became defensive and lashed out in anger only to learn later that the comment was simply meant to provide information. Virginia Satir, the renowned family therapist, developed a model of what goes on inside each of us when we take in a comment. Entitled Ingredients of an Interaction, the model traces the steps we go through to create our response, including intake, creating a meaning, defenses, and coping. In this course, learn to interpret your own unique process of forming responses and how to avoid falling into old, destructive habits. Becoming more aware of yourself and your patterns can help make change possible!

COURSE OBJECTIVES

• Meet the Ingredients;
• Use examples to walk through the Ingredients;
• Identify ways to intercept our personal patterns;
• Practice interrupting a personal pattern;
• Discuss how we can help others who have mixed together old and new ingredients.

The handout for the course is available for you to view.