For a while now I have been noticing patterns of numbers and becoming more curious. My top three favourite numbers these days are one, three and five. You might say these three numbers have a lot of impact on me. Today, I’d like to explore the power of three.

 

The powerful pattern of three is all around us: three meals a day, three parts to the “day” (morning, day and night), Goldilocks and the three bears (too hot, too cold, just right) and even three medals at the Olympics. In expressive arts therapy we talk about the arrival of the third thing (the creative idea and piece of art that arrives when therapist and client meet and commit wholeheartedly to the process). In occupational therapy we attend to another three- self care, productivity and leisure.

 

Three sometimes gets a bad rap in therapy-triangles are seen as problematic rather than stable in the family, a commitment of three sessions not enough, three strikes and you are out! What if we changed our perspective about three? What if we insisted on a focus of the three stages of the therapy- beginning, middle and end- in each session and in the process?

 

In expressive arts therapy we look for ways to crystallize learning, i.e. create a little heat so as to fire up the spark of imagination. Imagination can show up when we create a restriction, the idea that “less is more”. It reminds us that the right amount of restriction of time, materials or instructions can lead to the right amount of discovery, play and responsibility. Offering three sessions for a mini therapy process, to identify a “compass direction” for a current life situation or therapy journey can do just that. Instead of offering just one session or a package of 6 or 8, what about if we offered three as a first commitment.

 

I have experienced success with threes: three sessions to explore work dilemmas, the triple “A” model (a triangle that explores awareness, then acceptance, then adjustment) and offering three activity options to my clients in the middle of the therapy process. I tried the threes out on my vacation this summer, my three priorities were building, playing and letting go. It created magic results!

 

Notice threes in your own life. Try out a few experiments, select three current mentors, three favourite books, three things on your to do list, and only three priorities for the weekend. It offers an interesting perspective and heats up the imagination.

 

And, try out three sessions with me. I am calling it a consultation trio, and I love the clarity that results. It could offer you more understanding about what’s important, what’s getting in the way and what your next step is.

 

Let me know how the three’s go and what your favourite three is!

 

Looking forward to hearing from you,

 

Karen