The Johari Window: A tool for self-awareness and growth in therapy
The Johari Window is a simple but powerful tool for self-awareness and growth. It was developed in the 1950s by psychologists Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham, and it has been used in therapy ever since.
The Johari Window is a four-pane grid that represents the different parts of ourselves:
- Public Self: The parts of ourselves that we are aware of and that we share with others.
- Hidden Self: The parts of ourselves that we are aware of but that we do not share with others.
- Blind Self: The parts of ourselves that we are not aware of but that others are aware of.
- Unconscious Self: The parts of ourselves that we are not aware of and that others are not aware of.
The Johari Window can be used to help us to understand ourselves better and to improve our relationships with others. For example, if we have a large Public Self and a small Blind Self, it means that we are open and honest with others and that we are aware of how others perceive us. If we have a small Public Self and a large Blind Self, it means that we are closed off and secretive and that we are not aware of how we impact others.
In therapy, the Johari Window can be used to help us to:
- Increase our self-awareness: By understanding the different parts of ourselves, we can become more aware of our own strengths, weaknesses, and needs.
- Improve our communication: By sharing more of our Hidden Self with others, we can build more authentic and intimate relationships.
- Reduce our Blind Self: By getting feedback from others, we can become more aware of how we impact others and of any areas where we need to grow.
- Expand our Public Self: By sharing more of our Hidden Self with others, we can live more authentic and fulfilling lives.
The Johari Window is a valuable tool that can be used to help us to grow and develop as individuals. If you are interested in learning more about the Johari Window, or if you would like to use it in therapy, talk to your therapist.
Here is an example of how the Johari Window might be used in therapy:
A client comes to therapy because they are feeling lonely and isolated. They have difficulty forming close relationships. The therapist uses the Johari Window to help the client to understand why they are having difficulty forming close relationships.
The therapist and client work together to identify the different parts of the client’s self. They find that the client has a small Public Self and a large Hidden Self. The client is afraid of being rejected, so they do not share much of themselves with others.
The therapist helps the client to develop a plan for increasing their Public Self. The client starts by sharing more of their thoughts and feelings with their friends and family. They also start to pursue activities that they enjoy and that allow them to meet new people.
Over time, the client’s Public Self grows and their Hidden Self shrinks. The client is able to form more close relationships and they feel less lonely and isolated.
The Johari Window is a powerful tool that can be used to help people to grow and develop. It is a valuable tool for use in therapy.
This is the Wikipedia article on Johari Window model – but it can be confusing about who picks the words.