Iryna Gromova is a practicing psychologist with over 6 years of experience in positive psychotherapy. She conducts individual consultations (personal therapy) and group therapy. She is a certified facilitator of the psychological transformation game “Satori.”
We met with Iryna and asked her about transformation games, how they can help us change our lives, and how effective they can be in corporate psychology.
What transformation games are relevant and what are they needed for?
Iryna: The first transformation games appeared about 30 years ago, and they can be conditionally divided into three categories: business games, esoteric games, and psychological games. I’ll tell you more about the latter.
In general, there is quite a rich selection of transformation games:
- Business games — help focus the player’s attention on work and professional development issues, teach specific business skills, decision-making, team building, strategic thinking, or help change attitudes toward money and find new ways of earning. For example, “Monopoly,” “Cash Flow,” or “Rat Race.”
- Esoteric games — help find answers to current questions through spiritual messages. For example, “Leela Chakra” is an esoteric game based on the ancient “Book of Changes,” consisting of a field with 64 cells, each carrying a specific “message” for the player. This game can address various queries: from job searching to understanding “what purpose I came to this world for.”
- Psychological games — aimed at solving psychological problems such as self-doubt, difficult relationships with loved ones and society, low self-esteem, resentments, fears, and they also help obtain resources and support. One such psychological game is “SATORI,” which I’ll tell you about later.
In a transformation game, all participants win. Each receives an answer to their personal question. It forms a kind of instruction on how to proceed with the issue that concerns the player.
The goal of a transformation game is not only to better understand oneself but also to change. And then the personality we become will start changing circumstances in all areas of life because everything is interconnected. It is for the sake of change that one should play transformation games.
WHY “SATORI”?
Iryna: The game “Satori” appeared in my life not by chance, and it was a long time ago. I first played it myself, before becoming a practicing psychologist, and SATORI made a huge impression on me.
To some extent, this game became the impetus for me to go into psychology and become a psychotherapist, for which I am very grateful to fate. I chose the transformation game as one of the tools for my psychological practice.
The transformation game “SATORI” was developed by American psychotherapist Colin Tipping. Lists of all certified Satori game facilitators are public and can be found on the Internet.
The game is based on the “Radical Forgiveness” method in 5 stages — it’s an effective technique that works to strengthen relationships, release resentments, anger, fears, various blocks, negative beliefs, and unpleasant experiences from the past. “Satori” helps completely revise one’s view of their past and present.
It provides an opportunity to find answers to personal questions, abandon the victim role and become the author of one’s life, change worldview, and discover one’s resource. The game provides amazing results that help a person make a transformational move forward.
Unfortunately, in our country, visiting a psychologist is still perceived by some as “admitting one’s own inadequacy.” For such people, the game can become a comfortable way to resolve personal issues. As a projective technique, the game allows one to realize hidden (unconscious) attitudes and problems through association.
During the game, the participant begins to understand what they want to change, which areas of life they need to “improve.” Working on their thinking, the player understands which fears and negative beliefs they want to release.
The entire game process is aimed at positive changes that will occur when the participant finds the answer to their query by looking into their inner universe.
WHY DOES EACH PARTICIPANT HAVE A DIFFERENT TIME FOR COMPLETING THE GAME?
Iryna: Clients who play for the first time and have never spoken with a psychologist before need more time to realize their true queries and goals. Time is also needed to remove psychological barriers. A client who comes multiple times is usually more open to change. When there is no psychological resistance, the game moves dynamically.
It also happens that the query or meeting format changes during the session itself. As a psychologist, I use the positive psychotherapy method to clearly define the query so the client can receive maximum benefit. At the meeting,
I immediately see if the client would be better off in an individual consultation without the game. People with developed logical thinking, who are used to analyzing everything, are better off having an individual consultation right away. Because such players will constantly return to the first cell, to the beginning.
In a classical consultation, a person comes with a specific problem, and a series of sessions may be needed to solve it. The game is more suitable for those who cannot understand their condition, formulate a specific problem or query. The game format gives the participant an opportunity to experience new emotions and impressions. In 4-5 hours, an understanding forms of where to move next and how to solve issues.
WHAT TASKS CAN BE SOLVED WITH A TRANSFORMATION GAME?
Iryna: A transformation game will help: discover new talents and abilities, improve relationships with colleagues, increase self-esteem, become more confident, get rid of negative beliefs, forgive parents (separate), improve family relationships, learn to boldly express feelings and emotions, meet a potential partner, forgive and accept oneself, get more enjoyment from life, become happy and be in a state of flow.
Interestingly, the game results are equally effective in online or offline format. Previously, I only conducted the game remotely with clients abroad, but now it’s a more popular format. An online dice generator comes in handy, and when cards need to be chosen, I show them from my set. I help participants illuminate the path, like with a flashlight, but they decide which “route” to choose themselves.
“I HELP PARTICIPANTS ILLUMINATE THE PATH, LIKE WITH A FLASHLIGHT”
I work in the method of positive psychotherapy, where the primary ability is “to love,” and the secondary is “to know.” During the game, it’s important to achieve a feeling of love and acceptance. In the first circle, a person reaches the stage where they need to release negative emotions and blocks. Then a field appears for healing the person, and I show the player another boundary — “to know.” After that, answers are found to why certain problems and blocks arose in life. And at the exit, the client comes to understand how they can change their life, how exactly to solve the problem. That is, they understand how to independently overcome difficult situations. I always rejoice when I can see how new goals and desires take shape after being freed from the burden of negative experience, and I am inspired by the positive changes in my clients’ lives.
Conclusions
Transformation games represent a powerful tool in modern psychology, bridging the gap between traditional therapy and interactive personal development. They offer a unique approach to addressing psychological issues through play, making therapy more accessible and less intimidating for those who might be hesitant to seek traditional counseling. The success of games like Satori demonstrates how alternative therapeutic methods can effectively facilitate personal growth, emotional healing, and positive life changes.
By Angelika Burkina
Organizational Psychology