Page 376 - Mike Ratner CC - WISR Complete Dissertation - v6

In fostering commitment at the outset of the dialogue by creating a supportive atmosphere,

an environment conducive to confronting tensions in an honest and open way was set. Isaacs

(1999) refers to this setting as a container. The dialogue container is symbolic of a space created

in the dialogue circle that can “evolve and deepen over time; as they become more conscious, they

can hold more pressure” (p. 244). As the members of the dialogue space became more at ease with

the process and each other, the group conscious allows sensitivity in the handling of divergent

comments and responses among dialogue group members. During the initial dialogue sessions

establishing a safe and trusting dialogue “Metasphere” environment was essential because to stress

the importance of the practice relating and to put participants at ease in dialogue locations that

were different for each of three dialogues following the first session. A comfort level with the

physical space supporting a dialogue process eliminates a mental and emotional barrier and allows

participants to focus on the topics at hand. Easy ways of making the dialogue flow is by removing

the sorting and framing process associated with locating oneself and others in an unfamiliar space.

Within a dialogue container or holding environment, when tension is processed within this

Metasphere ‘field’ at this level healing can begin. In addition to the holding environment, the

physical configuration of the dialogue space promotes a feeling of safety as well. Interview

respondents discussed two types of tension felt during the dialogue sessions. One type of tension

was internal and emanated from the respondent. The internal tension was expressed as guilt and

became apparent to an astute participant after watching the video (aired during the first dialogue

session), participating in dyad conversation and listening to the experiences of persons of minority

status around the dialogue circle. The guilt was felt even as the participant’s dyad partner tried to

console her and reassure her that the guilt she felt was not hers to own. A sample of the comments

of two respondents pertaining to this issue of guilt and healing follows below (next page).

357