The presentation, " Healing as Appreciating Pattern: Exploring Wholeness, Essence, and Uniqueness in Practice and Science", addressed his recent research in the field of pattern appreciation. Using pattern appreciation as his primary method for research, he has created profiles of individuals experiencing despair, using metaphor, music and imagery that are woven together as a story that reflects the person's unique pattern. This research seeks to represent the wholeness within the human experience of despair by identifying the pattern.

As human beings, we are all seeking, reaching for wholeness. As the unitary view of human beings, we are irreducible wholes, and healing can occur when we appreciate the patterns of our experience.

Dr. Cowling's research involved working with individuals who were experiencing despair in their life. As the clients related to him their experience of despair, he attempted to identify the patterns that he saw emerging. Through the use of extended conversations, sensitive participation, understanding, and caring for the participant, pattern appreciation emerged. Appreciation of these patterns is identified through perceptual consciousness, ways of relating and through ways of knowing. Appreciative knowing comes from our experience, our perceptions, and our expressions.

As Dr. Cowling identified these patterns he saw emerging, he wrote a story, using metaphor, to describe these patterns. In a sense he wrote the clients story as he saw it. He used imagery to describe the patterns emerging and incorporated music that seemed to express the experience. He then presented this story to the client. This client had expressed her own story in pictures she had drawn as she herself reflected on her experience. The similarities of the story and the pictures were uncanny. The clients then participated in adapting the story to her perspective and understanding. Through this mutual process the client could see the patterns that were present in her experience of despair. This is the place where healing takes place. Through an understanding of her patterns, she could better understand her experience and was able to identify behaviors, and or beliefs, that are present in her experience of despair. In healing the despair many clients "rewrote" their story and were able to incorporate new experiences in their life by altering their patterns.

In his presentation, Dr Cowling shared the story of one of his clients. The story read like a fairy tale, filled with imagery and metaphor. Music was used to enhance certain aspects and experiences in the story. When presented in this light, patterns could be seen emerging. It was a very moving story. I realized that when stories are viewed in this context, we can recognize the power of an individual's story. In the view of unitary man, power is the knowing participation in change.

In truth, we all, as human beings, have very unique, powerful stories. We all have music and songs that seem to have been written just for us, that told our story at that time in our life. Music is a very powerful tool to help us see our experiences and patterns. The use of storytelling and music seemed to bring this client to life, and you truly felt privileged to be able to share in this experience.

Pattern appreciation is used as an attempt to discover the wholeness, and the essence, that is present in each one of us. We all possess a unique human pattern. When we recognize our patterns we have the potential for healing and transformation.

For further information:

Email: WCOWLING@RUBY.VCU.EDU

http://www.pathway.net/seeker/mrogers.htm