From the author: This article is from a series of my “sewing-psychological notes”, in which I compare psychology (my main profession) with sewing and knitting (my hobbies , hobby). Here I am talking about the tools in the work of a psychologist and a seamstress, comparing them, drawing analogies. It seems to me that if you ask a “man on the street”: “What tools does a seamstress use in her work?”, then he will probably remember a sewing machine, scissors , needles. More “advanced” people may mention an overlocker (a machine for processing the edges of seams, sewing knitwear). Few people know that there are also overlockers, an embroidery machine, and a lot of different devices that punch through buttons, blocks, eyelets, etc. and so on. (I won’t bore you with terminology anymore). Perhaps it will be a discovery for someone that the iron is also a seamstress’ tool, because... Almost every seam alternates with ironing, ironing, ironing, ironing, etc. I think that the idea of ​​the most famous tool - the sewing machine - is also far from reality. Modern sewing machines are very different in design and “filling” from the prehistoric Zingers that our grandmothers had or the Podolsk “Chaikas” that were the pride of our mothers. Cars are no longer just mechanical (manual, foot, electric). Nowadays, entire computer programs are “sewn” into them, allowing you to perform complex stitches at the touch of a button (for example, making a buttonhole). Now they have 20, 50, 70, and in some up to 500 types of stitches (!!!), here you have flowers, petals, and even any Cyrillic and Latin letters, 5-20 types of loops. Therefore, seamstresses tailoring professionally, you have to constantly update and “tune” your “vehicle fleet” (as they themselves say about their cars), and master new tools. I wonder what the same “man on the street” will say if you ask him: “What tools does a psychologist use in his work?” This question will probably make him think deeply. I even see this perplexed look, and hear the answer: “Yes, none, he’s just talking.” Perhaps a more knowledgeable person will say: “all sorts of tests.” The answer to the question about the tools in the work of a psychologist is not so obvious. Outwardly, our work looks like ordinary communication between two or several people, in which one talks more (client), and the other is more silent, sometimes asks questions, paraphrases, generalizes, gives interpretations (psychologist). In fact, the main tool in the work of a psychologist is is himself, his personality. In our work, we rely on the feelings that the client evokes in us (his statements, actions), we use our own qualities (for example, goodwill, confidence). Further, various approaches can be called as tools, for example, the famous psychoanalysis, or lesser-known gestaltherapy , neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), psychosynthesis, etc. Or rather, it’s not even one instrument, but a whole case, or even a carload of instruments. The next level is various psychotechniques, starting with the most basic ones, for example, passive listening techniques (such as hooting, nodding the head, etc.), ending with more profound ones. used at certain stages (for example, writing a letter to yourself or talking to an “empty” chair, or drawing your own inner world). For clarity, I will give some analogies. So, the main tool in the work of a seamstress is a sewing machine, and in the work of a psychologist - his personality. Proficiency in any direction of psychology (psychoanalysis, symboldrama, art therapy, body therapy), I would equate to an overlocker, a carpet locker, an embroidery machine or other complex equipment . It’s not enough to purchase it, you also need to master it, learn how to make different stitches and seams on it, use devices, and be able to adjust it to different types of fabrics. So the “uh-huh-yes” technique used in the listening process (the name speaks for itself), in my opinion, is comparable to the presence…