Hakomi: Probes

“A probe is an experiment in mindfulness, an example of evoked experience, assisted

meditation, if you like. We take time to prepare. We set up mindfulness, introduce a stimulus
and study the reaction. We’re looking for clues to the organization of experience” (Kurtz, 1990,
p. 91). Clients are asked to notice whatever reactions spontaneously occur for them in response
to a potentially nourishing statement (Barstow & Johanson, 2015). “When the client notices
reactions and is able to report on them, the client is not reacting, but is in fact, responding, for
noticing reactions is of a different order entirely from reactions themselves. With mindfulness,
consciousness is self-reflective, able to study itself” (Kurtz, 1990, p. 91).

Probes are nourishing, or potentially nourishing, but nourishment is not the main objective.
With probes, we offer nourishment and give a client a chance “to either take in something
that’s needed or to see clearly that he or she rejects what’s offered. From there we can explore
how and why that nourishment is rejected. We offer precisely the nourishment that we think
the client needs and wants most and will have the most difficulty taking in. That’s where the
growth potential is” (Kurtz, 1990, p. 95).

Before delivering the probe, the therapist asks the client to get into a mindful state, by closing
their eyes and bringing their full attention to the present moment. The therapist waits until the
client is ready. When the client is ready, the therapist offers a brief, concise statement like: Just
notice what happens for you when I say… It could be a feeling or thought, a memory, tension in
your body and it’s okay if nothing happens. Please notice what your experience is when I say…

It’s safe here.

All of your feelings are okay.

You’re welcome here.

I’m here for you.

You’re a beautiful person.

If the therapist says, for example, ‘You’re a beautiful person’ and the client responds with: ‘I
don’t think you really mean that.’ Then the therapist needs to ask for a report which could be
expressed like: ‘I hear what you’re saying, however I don’t believe you said what happened for
you. Did you notice a thought, a feeling, a memory, anything?’ If this still doesn’t work, then
create more safety or help them get into a deeper state of relaxation then deliver a probe
again.
Probes are delivered slowly and then there is a pause between the part about noticing what
happens and the probe statement itself. This pause assists the client in remaining in a mindful
state. Probes are delivered in a neutral tone of voice and avoid efforts to be convincing, without
pressure to accept (or reject) the statement. Probes are also not ordinary conversation and
they avoid unrealistic statements like: nobody will feel anger towards you ever again.

While there are more generic probes, as a therapist works with a client, they often will refine a
probe until it is more specific for that particular client. Also, it is ideal to not use first person
statements like ‘I love you’ but rather something like ‘You’re lovable.’ With first person
statements, it’s easy to get into interactions “based on transference” (Kurtz, 1990, p. 95). The
client can begin acting like you were in ordinary conversation. If this happens then be clear
“that the probe is an experiment and not necessarily a true expression of your thoughts and
feelings” (p. 95).

Finally, it is possible to turn a contact statement like ‘some sadness huh’ into a probe like ‘all
your feelings are welcome here’ or ‘tired huh’ into ‘it’s okay to rest’ (Kurtz, 1990).

References

Barstow, C. & Johanson, G. (2015). Glossary of Hakomi Therapy Terms. H. Weiss, G.

Johanson & L. Monda (Eds.). Hakomi mindfulness-centered somatic psychotherapy: a
comprehensive guide to theory and practice (pp. 295-299). New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

Kurtz, R. S. (1990). Body-Centered Psychotherapy: The Hakomi Method. Mendocino, CA:

Liferhythm Press.