try it out within the CCI format!

Written by Niek | 19 October 2010

One of the main reasons – if not the most expressive one – of the transforming of RC into CCI in 1974, was – and is - the absolute absence of any authoritarian influence in the CCI approach. Within CCI only the practitioner is in charge of her or his own work: to gain awareness's about things they were not aware off before. It is this absence of any authoritarian influence, that makes CCI unique. It offers the practitioners the freedom to practice any approach within the CCI format of growth, that they think useful for them. That does not mean that there are no 'rules'. Practitioners are fully free to obey these ' rules' of giving' and 'accepting' free attention, respect, no commends on statements etc. or not. If they do not want to obey these, that is OK too. At the same time too, it is simply not any more within the framework of CCI.
In my practice of this CCI, I observe that there is plenty of room to experiment all kinds of approaches. That is one of the basic starting points of the yearly international CCI meetings. They are famous for all kinds of approaches in early morning sessions with all kinds of meditations, yoga exercises etc. until drawing workshops and singing and dancing expressions, late in the evening. They all are done within the CCI format: expressing the one you are at that moment, respected as such. These all, sometimes so called and announced as 'non (CCI) co-counselling'-activities, are only fully practiced because CCI invites you to do so within the CCI format. In that way it is stupendous that we call these activities 'non (CCI) co-counselling', because they are simply within the format of CCI: the practitioner is in charge!
CCI enhances – from the very beginning on – to try other approaches out within the CCI format, to experience the difference in results with 'blindly follow, what the facilitator orders to do'.

liberating
On the other hand, there are many approaches – in whatever way - you only have to do what the leader says, to gain the promised excellent results. That means in fact, that not you, but the other one is in charge. They make the decisions for you and if the result is not what you did expect, you are the only one who did not do it right....
In an environment where we are used 'to do what is ordered', by law, by traffic signs or at work, it is exceptional to find ourselves to be in charge. To be aware of that is the first result of the CCI format! And in that way it is liberating!