Personalizing meaning is the first step toward facilitating the helpees’ understanding of where they are in relation to where they want or need to be. We personalize the meaning when we “add” to the helpees’ understanding of the mean ing of their experiences.
In responding “interchangeably” to meaning we answered the questions: “What is the situation?” and “How does the helpee feel about it?” In personalizing meaning we answer the questions: “What are the effects of the situation upon the helpee?” (Implications) and “What personal beliefs cause the helpee to feel this way about the situation?” (Assumptions).
Personalizing meaning involves building on common themes to formulate and communicate the implications of the helpees’ ...
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