MISSION STATEMENT ABOUT Af-x, Affectology and This Site
from Ian White
from Ian White
What appears below is a statement about the reason for this site to exist AND a much-needed explanation about the place that affect studies and understanding of affectology holds in an appreciation of the human condition and therapeutic methods.
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MISSION STATEMENT from Ian White, Founder of Affectology and Af-x In the broader context, I'm not sure what a mission statement is, or why one should be necessary, since I believe that the statement of any person or organization's 'mission' lies in achievement and results as perceived by onlookers. But I'll attempt here to state what we intend this website to DO.
During several late decades of the last century and in this early 2000s, the study of affective states of human dynamic seems to be shrouded in puzzlement and allocated to a metaphorical back-room in science. One of the important reasons for this is that most therapeutic approaches that fall under the banner of 'psychology' have no procedural tools to help people in a field that 'has no words.' Since there have seemed to be no ways to bring the excitingly revolutionary study and research of Affective Neuroscience into a procedural context - let's call that an Applied Affectology - then the findings and understandings about 'how we work' have remained unstated (except for some enlightening books on the subject) and unused (except for the particular affect-oriented style of Clinical Affectology and Af-x). In earlier days, one of my then-trainees, Jenny Ejlak, proposed that we could define "Affectology" as being the science of feelings and "Af-x" as being the science of FEELING GOOD. And for Af-x Practitioners that means helping CHANGE human feelings for the better. A good proposition. The network of affectologists and Af-x practitioners has remained working in the background to help in the positive modification of emotional states in thousands of clients over the last decade or more. This website seeks to expand your knowledge and awareness of
The site also seeks to inform you of the existence of practitioners that may be working in your area, and the existence of the School of Affectology International, that provides study in affectology and training for professional Af-x practitioners and Clinical Affectologists. CLARIFICATION
We talk a lot about "Af-x Practitioners" or "Af-x® Therapists" in this site. We also mention "Clinical Affectologists" seemingly in the same breath and similar context. If it's not already explanatory in the opening answers in the FAQ page accessible from the bottom link on the "Are You Ready" page of this site, I can simplify the explanation here with this chronological listing: An Affectologist is a person who has studied the field of the development of preverbal affect or emotions in human beings. Applied Affectology is the study of how affect informs and influences adult (or post-verbal) emotional health and wellness, mentally, attitudinally and physically. A Clinical Affectologist is a psychotherapist who has successfully studied the required applied affectology theory as set down at the School of Affectology and received training in the APPLICATION of that theory to specific therapy that honors AFFECT-ONLY as a treatment approach. The Greek 'partner school' is the Applied Psychotherapy and Counselling Centre in Athens. Such individuals may use the Trademarked name "Clinical Affectologists" if they wish. An Af-x® Practitioner (or Af-x® Therapist) is a Clinical Affectologist who has undertaken a stringent monitoring process under the mentorship of Ian White, and has been shown to deliver effective therapy with a higher-than-average success rate as reported by ex-clients to White (not to the therapist). Such individuals are the only practitioners permitted by law to claim and/or display the registered Trademark, Af-x®. This is a legally protected system of categorization. _Put simply, a Clinical Affectologist and an Af-x® Practitioner would do the same style of therapeutic work, while the Af-x® Practitioner has a proven record of treatment success. This does NOT imply that one is better than the other.
We have no way of knowing that. But, it shows that one (Af-x) has been
strictly monitored and clients have delivered clear, honest and anonymous (to the therapist) feedback, while the
other does not operate within that system.
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