This chapter is from The Road to Clear, Level Zero

Communication Processes - Grade Zero

What the pc can expect from the Communications Grade is simply an increased ability to communicate to others.

We are not shooting for sudden miracles of mental or physical recovery. Level zero is there to get the pc's feet on the ladder and make a first important step up towards more abilities than they ever hoped for.

Communication and level zero is taking up an area from which beginning pc's usually can make the most gains. Sometimes it can seem miraculous.

All we go for at Grade zero is this: Recovering the pc's ability to talk to others freely.

Earlier in the manual we have in great detail gone over how a pc isn't in-session unless he is willing to talk to his auditor. You now have to realize he can't be in life until he is able to communicate freely with others.

Any process that forwards this is level zero material. Any process that doesn't, does not belong here.

Pc's may be frantic to go Clear quickly; but no matter how frantic they are, the most gain and the best start is accomplished by doing Grade 0.

The more hysterical the pc may be about getting advanced and powerful processes the less likely he is to benefit from it. This frame of mind actually indicates, he needs a feather light touch (see Effect Scale).

What we do at Grade 0 is simply this:

1. Recover the pc's ability to talk freely.

Often in processing we go for 'Negative Gain', meaning eradicating a disability. On Grade 0 we go the opposite way, Increasing a natural ability by validating what is right about the pc.

2. We teach the pc by example, that the auditor is safe to talk to and won't betray, punish or reprimand him.

By putting the 'magic of communication' in fully the pc is likely to benefit tremendously.

3. We apply the Effect scale by not using desperate measures. Real lasting gains in beginning auditing is best achieved by light, positive gain processing.

On Recall processes we improve the pc's recall and his access and control over mental image pictures.

On communication processes we work directly with coaxing the pc's ability to communicate, even about difficult subjects. This leads directly to steady gains, an increased ability and a greater ability to take an active role in life.

Style of Auditing
The auditing style used is Listen Style. The auditor is a good listener and puts in minimum control. The whole purpose is to get the pc talking happily and with confidence. The use of TR-3 is minimal. TR-2 1/2, half acknowledgments are used when appropriate to keep the pc talking. You can use "OK, tell me more about it" as a half ack if the pc starts out with hesitant answers or you can use the Prompters below. The pc is allowed to wander around a bit as long as he is going in the direction of freer communication.

The Prompters
In Listen Style: When the pc stops talking, the auditor must adjudicate whether the pc is simply no longer interested in the subject, or has become unwilling to talk about some bit of it. If the auditor believes the pc has stopped because of embarrassment or some similar reason, the auditor has The Prompters he can use:

Prompter (a) "Have you found something you think would make me think less of you?"
Prompter (b) "Is there something you thought of that you think I wouldn't understand? "
Prompter (c) "Have you said something you felt I didn't understand. If so, tell me again."
Prompter (d) "Have you found something you haven't understood? If so, tell me about it."

The auditor must know these prompters. He uses as many as needed, in the sequence given, to start the pc talking again.

On Grade 0, everything done in the processes are in the direction of free communication. The processes and the Meter Assessments are used to find areas that needs to be freed up.

EP's of Subjects and Processes
A chosen subject/person or process is not left until the pc is comfortable about it. By this is meant, the pc would not feel disturbed talking to the subject or person chosen.

 If pc is shy, uncertain, or if he is aggressive or annoyed, the process or subject is not flat or EP'ed.  A subject or process is not left until the pc really can respond cheerfully. When this is accomplished, a new process or subject is chosen and the Grades processes are continued, using the new process or subject.

R Factor to PC
On Grade 0 the auditor "tells the pc the purpose of the session (Reality Factor) "I want to get you used to talking to another." "I want to improve your reach," etc. It's the auditor's goal at this level, not the pc's. Pc's don't get a chance to set goals in Listen Style as they would set goals they can't attain at this level and wouldn't have enough reality on auditing anyway to be sensible about it."

Ability Attained from Auditing on Communication (4 flows):