Riding the Horse Backwards: Process Work in Theory and Practice

by Arnold Mindell, Amy Mindell

This transcript of a process-oriented psychology seminar provides a theoretical overview, and then continues on with demonstrations of how to work with individuals and groups. The interactions between Drs. Mindell and the seminar participants show that in order to get to the process, it may be necessary to employ trickster-like ways, based on the fabled, wise trickster of a Native American tribe, who did everything differently. His horse went forwards, for instance, but he rode it facing backwards, thereby taking a new approach.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction

234 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Tristan Alaba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Radical and important counselling work published in 1992, yet still making waves amongst those looking for a holistic, natural way to delve into accessing awareness and subconscious means for processing personal and interpersonal change.

There’s a few big moments in the opening chapters, in contextualising and framing Arnold and Amy Mindell’s position in the greater context of “helping professionals”; integrating Buddhism, Jung, Tao, and practices from around the world, particularly with movement and body-based techniques, a new yet timeless approach is synthesised in theory; the majority of the book attempts to show examples in practice via an account of a teaching retreat, including participants perspectives.

The account could seem long-winded, but it’s a real account, and for what it is, it can reveal a lot of the wisdom of process-work, to those interested.

It is worth sticking through to the end, and absorbing the reflections in the conclusion.

The discussion of edges, of secondary processes, of community work, of how to encourage and go with unfolding processes - this work is valuable beyond measure to any curious, committed, compassionate student of social work, therapy, conscious self-work, spiritual development, or relationship counselling.

To put it into practice is a whole next step, but to read the theory and read an account of the practice is a huge revelation; recommended to nerds interested in the deeper layers of human psychological experience.

[Amy Palatnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely one of my favorite Processwork books. It is a transcription of a workshop, and you get to experience it like a fly on the wall, through Amy Mindell's keenly attuned and perceptive lens. Recommended for anyone curious about Processwork!

[Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had bought this book a couple of years ago and scanned it. I just read it through and, yeah, it's probably a very good introduction to the work of Arnold and Amy Mindell's process work "psychology". I found it easy reading and I love the simplicity and that certain humility with which he approaches 'process work '. Process work is perhaps the 'art' of 'mindfulness' or 'stopping thought' or 'the sound of one hand clapping' - call it what you like. In this context, I like the notion he puts forward of a 'neutral language'. Apart from that, I picked up quite a bit via the exercises and processes he takes his seminar through, which I have sought to apply to myself. It seems to me that what this book has really contributed to is bettering my understanding of 'channels' and being on the 'edge' and turning increasingly multisensorial. Above all, Mindell does not try to be the know-it-all shrink with advice for anyone, but rather a gentle 'ally' who walks with you as you make your own journey.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was assigned as part of my work with Interchange (www.radicalcounseling.com) and I loved it. It gets into how one can access different channels of the body to work with clients (or, theoretically, with oneself). It is well written, much like getting an insiders view of a workshop.

[Taylor Ellwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is basically a series of transcribed workshops where one of the author is discussing his techniques with the people at the workshop. If you've already read the other books about process work, this won't show you anything new and although its a demonstration of the process you can still get concrete examples in other works. It's not an absolute essential if you're already familiar with the author's other work.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking for classic Mindell "Processing" to augment my understanding of Aminah Raheem's Process Acupressure, because she cites Mindell. This book was not a good choice.

This book is more of journey of Mindell and Arny when they cohosted a workshop at the Easlen Institute. It shows the the genesis of process work in their personal explorations and discoveries. Alas, if you are widely read so much of what was "discovered" in the 1970s-1980s was already known in other disciplines.

[Nicole P · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A classical analyst or ordinary psychotherapist interprets or advises, while a process worker helps the individual dreamer to unfold meaning herself”