Visual Squash NLP Technique [Full Script]

This particular exercise is called ‘Visual Squash’ or ‘Parts Integration’ and contains aspects of ‘Negotiating with parts’. This is such a powerful technique! You will often find that you don’t even have to complete the exercise, because the person you coach is already completely surprised halfway through all the insights he gets! So read on to learn the steps and use the script.

What kind of technique is Visual Squash?

With this technique, which for convenience is called both “Negotiating with Sharing”, “Visual Squash” or “Part Integration”, you can integrate incongruent “parts” with each other.

A part is not literally a part, but it is a metaphor that represents an option, choice, intention, purpose, function and behavior.

The two parts you choose have the same supreme intention. They were once part of a greater whole. On this basis, reintegration is possible.

We leave out the behavior, and we go to the intention . In this way we solve the incongruity between the behavior and the intention of a part.

Some of it can be a metaphor for whatever you want, but one valuable combination that can always be done is to integrate the head and the heart.

What is the purpose of the Visual Squash?

With this technique you work on the undercurrent of a problem. You make that undercurrent calm , so that you can make easier choices at the top .

The undercurrent here is a metaphor for the subconscious : the boat (the conscious brain) may want to go in a certain direction, but if the undercurrent is too strong, there is unrest.

As soon as you – after ‘Working with Sharing / Visual Squash’ – have calmed down the undercurrent, you will notice that you suddenly no longer experience the situation in question as a problem. Everything is okay and suddenly you can easily make a choice. You feel congruent.

Someone who really helps someone else does not provide solutions, but at most asks questions. Everyone has the resources to solve it on their own. This is beautifully applied in the Visual Squash.

How do you start informally with the technique?

1. Name the incongruity that someone is telling you or that you have noticed with factual observations and ask questions. “I heard you say x and saw you do y (sensory specific). Can you tell me what’s going on inside you? If you don’t want x, what do you want?” The other person will often not even notice that he / she did y.
2. Then you can “pace” this: “Part of your will … and part of your will …” You can also mirror the incongruity.
3. Tell me more about {part x}? Break state. And share y?
4. Also ask about the positive intention of those parts.
5. Reinforce each part in a kind of provocative way to create sympathy for the opposite side. This requires a report .

You haven’t ‘done’ anything with the steps above. That is because the above steps are often enough for the other person to make the connections themselves.

And now let’s get to the formal technique steps, because you can always use those too …

Step 1 of the Visual Squah: Questioning the situation

Identify the types of client behavior, interests, and / or feelings that conflict. In other words, ask what the dilemma is.

This can also be heralded by simply naming the challenge, which is not literally a dilemma. For example: “I really don’t feel like going to the gym right now …” To discover “the other part”, ask, “And what does the alternative look like?” Another way to query the parts is to ask, after the client introduces a problem, “How is that a problem?”

Have the client describe the problem and the alternative (the two parts) in more detail. Observe the client carefully, and reflect what differences you see in the client’s physiology as he / she moves from describing one part to describing the other part.

Now is an excellent time to ‘pace’, so to give back what you hear.

What are the two options / choices / what is the dilemma? Part of you wants A, and part of you wants B.

Name the parts as well.

Step 2 of the Visual Squah: Making the parts tangible by thoroughly exploring them

Note : From this step onwards, each part is often invited on each hand of the client. For some people, however, this can quickly become ‘woolly’. Because who looks at his empty hands while he also has to talk to or about it?

That is why you can also postpone this or omit it completely. Feel free to deviate and improvise because this is  not a key moment in technology. This step is not the difference that makes the difference.

Alternatively, you can simply start by imagining the parts in the space. For example, the client can see himself in the space as one part and in another place in the space the client can see himself as the other part.

Imagine that these two parts of you are real and in front of you. So make an image of it.
Part A: What would you look like if you didn’t go to the gym? Where would this version of {client name} sit or be in the room? ‘

The client is allowed to see the conflicting parts one by one in the room. Use your hypnotic language to make it easier for the client to imagine these parts. Use the ‘go first rule’, among other things, by also looking into the space and seeing the parts in front of you. You also use a lot of presuppositions in your language: The question ‘Where in space would part A want to be’ presupposes that the exercise has already started and the part is already in space.

Have the client explain a little more about this section. This can also be a symbol .

• How does she look like?
• What feelings does she have?
• How does she sound?
• Would it improve your experience of this technique if there were also sounds? Just notice them.
• What does the part look like?
• What is she doing?
• What is her attitude?
• What is her facial expression?
• What kind of clothes is she wearing?
• What does she think?
• What does she feel?
• What does she say to herself?
• What is she doing?
• What does she say?

Do the same with part B:

Part B: “What would you look like if you did go to the gym? Where would this version of {client name} sit or be in the room? ‘

A number of handles:

• Keep summarizing the information about these parts, mentioning the name of the parts to anchor it properly.
• It is optional to also have the client in the position of the parts so that he / she can associate in them (one by one).
• This is a highly visual process. It is therefore helpful for the client to keep his eyes open throughout the technique.

Optional Step: Invite the parts on the hands

Maybe you already put the parts on the hands, maybe you didn’t intend to use the hands at all, or maybe you are going to do this now. All options are fine!

You can also do this exercise as ‘voice dialogue’, for example, where you have the parts sit in chairs, always sit in the chairs yourself and speak on behalf of the relevant part and answer the questions.

There are many forms in which you can do this. Choose one that feels good to the client too.

Step 3 of the Visual Squah: Questioning the positive intentions

From a meta position, ask for the positive intention of each part. The first part with which we are going to communicate is preferably the most ‘problematic’ part.

As you watch part A, which triggers behavior X and emotion Y, you can become aware of what this part is all about for you …

Underline how the behavior of that part differs from the positive intention of that same part.

Do the same with part B: ask about the positive intention of that part.

Step 4 of the Visual Squah: Giving back and fractionating between the parts

Once the coach has identified the two conflicting parts and their positive intentions, he reflects them to the client through fractionation and pacing . For example:

“Part of you wants to be healthy and part of you wants to resist when you want to make healthy choices, but you also have … for you.”

Have the client thank both parts for their help and cooperation. Also have the client communicate to the parts that he can appreciate their positive intentions . The client can do this in silence or out loud, in his own way.

“Thank you for your cooperation. How nice to work with you, Part A / Part B. Thank you for your positive intention. I appreciate that”

You really want to highlight each part so that the positive intention can be recognized and it can complete its mission. Otherwise, it expresses itself in other undesirable behavior. Smoking could be expressed in food, for example.

Can one part not really accept the positive intention of the other part because it uses other criteria (different word for values ​​/ positive intention)? That is common. That’s what the next step is for …

Step 5 of the Visual Squah: The ‘negotiation’ by upchunking to the same highest intention

… Then we continue to ‘upchunken’ with the positive intentions. The essence of this exercise is that both parts have the best for you. So also the unwanted behavior has the best for you. For this we start upchunking,  so that we eventually even arrive at the same supreme intention . Tell the client:

Ask each part: what is your positive intention / purpose? Now that you have intention / goal x, what does that do for you? And now that you have x, what does that give you?

Repeat this as much as necessary until both parts realize that they have the same goal / intention. ” Then let the two parts negotiate with each other just as long, let them ask for the higher intention of each part, until they come to the same supreme intention .

A few tips:

• If a part gets stuck in a vicious circle, you pick up all those things that are repeated over and over, and you ask what the purpose is.
• Also check whether other areas of the client’s life will benefit from the outcome of the negotiations. This also applies to the people in the client’s environment. This is the ecology check.
• Keep the client associated in the part during this upchunk process. You do this by asking questions that associate someone: ‘What does that do for you? How does that feel? ‘ These questions can be repeated over and over again.
• If it is not easy to calibrate, feel free to ask whether a particular intention is the highest intention, or whether further upchanging needs to be done. “Subconscious of {client}, is {intention} the highest possible positive intention of this part?”

Step 6 of the Visual Squah: Communicating between the parts

Important: Take your time with the questions below. Everything has to be processed. So keep your mouth shut as a coach and calibrate. Look for the calibration of ‘peace’ rather than the words the client uses. They can differ per part, but the calibration (of peace) can be the same for each part.

• Both parts have a positive intention and the best for you.
• Let both parts recognize each other. They recognize that they have the same intention and that they were once part of the greater whole.
• Have the parts thank each other for wanting to communicate.
• Let the parts know that they value their positive intentions.
• Let the parts speak aloud to each other.
• Ask what their resources are so they can work together to achieve the best feeling and end result together. Do you see the lateral chunk construction in this?
• Does Part A (this choice) have resources that could be useful for B (this choice)? And vice versa?
• Is Part A willing to share these resources with B? Vice versa?
• Is Part A willing to cooperate? Vice versa?

Step 7 of the Visual Squah: Bringing the parts together – ‘morph’ into a new integrated part

Can you create a representation / image / symbol of A and B in the space in front of you, in which they work together?

Can you see part A and part B morph into a new integrated symbol / representation in which they work together?

Are there any intermediate steps? See these intermediate steps also take place in the representation.

This step can be followed in several ways to complete the integration. The two parts will in all cases be ‘morphed’ together into one new integrated part / symbol  (the subconscious mind likes to work with symbols). This uses a mapping across from the location submodality,  but you don’t have to remember that.

Here we describe the two best known ways. First do another ecology check.

The first variant of ‘morphing’ is to let the client imagine that the parts in the space remain their actual size, slowly float towards each other and become one in space (so you don’t do anything with hands!). If you had already put the parts on your hands before, use the second variant …

The second variant  of ‘morphing’ is to have the client imagine the parts floating on the client’s hands (if they had not already done so), after which the client’s hands are brought together. It is the essence of this variation that you bring your hands together to make the parts morph with each other.

Then have the client focus on a point that is between the two hands, while both hands are still visible. Then have the client slowly bring their hands together to install the integration of the parts. However, this does not necessarily have to be done literally. If the client doesn’t do that, you calibrate whether a shift has taken place after all, and it is also successful. Bringing the hands together is only a superficial part. Even if only the little fingers touch each other, it is still successful if you continue to calibrate.

It is also possible that the hands automatically come together without you having given any instructions to do so . In fact, this is highly recommended. Letting go of expectations, utilization, following & leading and silence tolerance come in handy here. Here too you use the ‘go first rule’ by leading yourself with your hands. So first bring your hands together slowly, after which the client will follow on the basis of a sufficient report.

Bring your hands together andintegrate them: let them merge until they are one. Know that each part does important things for you to the benefit of both parts. It will continue to do so. See, hear and feel how welcome all the benefits of integrating these parts are.

If there are parts that want to integrate, let them jump on the hand and integrate.

As you bring the positive of both parts back together and reunite with each other, you notice what new form this creates … What new realizations you could get as you bring your hands together.

Step 8 of the Visual Squah: extra ecology check

While the hands are still together, you do another ecology check. Check if there is any other part that may object. If so, return to step 3. The solution is always: chunk higher (find a higher common intention)!

Could there be an undesirable effect on you or others in some way?

Step 9 of the Visual Squah: Integration with the body

Do you do the variation without hands, but with the visualization in space? Then step into the image of collaboration (and new integrated symbol).

Do you do the hand variation? After the hands come together, bring it to your body to let it merge with your heart. Have the client complete the integration by holding hands together and bringing them to the heart at their own pace. Accompany this with your hypnotic language.

Take the integrated new part and let it merge with the wholeness within. This new part is now part of you because it is now part of your thoughts, feelings and behavior, and it is affecting in many ways now and in the future. Completely whole, completely complete, {name the highest positive intentions}, new (neurological) connections are made.

Calibration is very important at this point . Is there another conflict? Then you see an asymmetrical face.

Step 10 of the Visual Squah: Closing

End with the usual neutral state to distract from the conscious. Have the client actively think and participate in something completely different, such as the smell in the room, until you think enough conscious amnesia has occurred for the exercise.

Also perform the future pace : have the client think of a context in the future in which a similar conflict could occur if this exercise had not taken place. Keep a close eye on what is happening to the client’s physiology.

What is different now?

Variation: ‘Morph’ together with a mentor (a resource outside of you)

Feel free to improvise. You may want to use this exercise to integrate an outside resource with the client.

1. Bring your unwanted behavior to mind, and think of a mentor who would never do such a thing, and even do the opposite.
2. Picture your model / mentor in a picture. Name all parts of the VAKOG list . Put this image of your mentor in a crystal ball.
3. Picture yourself at your lowest moment of the unwanted behavior. Weaken this image with the help of submodalities. Finally make it as small as a dot. Hold it in front of your face and take a closer look because it’s the last time you’ll ever see it. It’s almost so funny that it’s such a small point now and so far away for you. Put it in another crystal ball.
4. Place each crystal ball on one of your hands. Clap your hands together to morph them. After this there is only 1 glass sphere left.
5. You see something change: Instead of seeing the mentor, you see him or her morphing with you.
6. See your actions become stronger, for example how you talk and how you greet people etc.
7. Now rub the crystal ball together in your hands to let it flow into your body. You can also do it in one go with one blow.
8. Notice how that new feeling takes over your body.

Extra integration

Give the morphed parts, which are now integrated, also depth: 3D as a hologram. Throw that ideal self high in the air, as far as you can no longer see it, until it is a small dot. And then you see that dot explodes into million little dots, which also multiply. And it will become a million ideal, integrated ‘you’. And they land in front of you again, spreading in all directions, in all areas of your life. Your past, your future, your personal life and your professional life. Watch them merge with those parts of your life. Repeat this more often, but quickly within 3 seconds. Don’t tell anyone what you are doing when you do this.

An alternative to this is that the new integrated part travels across the timeline to ‘clean up’ everything so that the new is consistent with the past.

Some more “Chef’s Secrets” for placing the parts on your hands

When using this variation, place your elbows in front of your body, with your palms open and straight out in front of you, so that the parts can stand on them. When you ask, “Which hand would Part A want to be on?” Then subtly point to one of the hands to make a non-verbal suggestion.

In addition, you say, “I’m going to show you how to hold your arms so it’s most comfortable.” Place the arms at a 90 degree angle with the hands out in front of them and palms up. From the tip of the fingers to the client’s elbow, arm by arm, touch very lightly and briefly to lock the arms as you bring the client into position.

Important: You can also perform this technique without content

Use the words’ notice what you see, hear, etc. to do this technique without content. But this structural approach is actually a basic attitude that you learn during an NLP training.  You can perform all interventions in this procedure-oriented way.