Van Deurzen developed four "compasses" — one for each dimension of existence. Emotions are seen as pointers to values: what is loved, what is under threat, what is lost. Shame, envy, hope point to a desired value; love, joy, pride — to a value possessed; jealousy, anger — to a value under threat; fear, grief — to a value being lost. Emotion is not a "symptom" but a navigational instrument.
Step-by-step guide
- Accept the client's emotion without evaluating it as "good" or "bad"
- Ask: which value does this emotion point to?
- Identify the direction: is the client moving toward the value or away from it? Is the value desired, possessed, under threat, or lost?
- Inquire what gets in the way of moving toward what is truly important
- Use the whole spectrum of emotions as a map of the client's orientation in life
When to use
- With emotional confusion ("I do not understand what is going on with me")
- With alexithymia — difficulty naming and recognizing feelings
- When working with values and meaning
- When the client experiences "strange" or shameful emotions (envy, jealousy) and does not understand their meaning
- When emotional contact with one's own needs has been lost
Key phrases
What does this envy tell you? What does it point to — what is important for you in what the other person has?
Follow-up questions
When you feel pride — what specifically turns out to be important for you?
This fear — does it speak about something you do not want to lose?
If this emotion is the needle of a compass, in which direction is it pointing?
Alternative phrasings
This anger — it seems to speak about something important to you, that is under threat. What is it?
Warnings
- ⚠️ Do not rush the "decoding" of emotions — first let them be heard and acknowledged
- ⚠️ The compass model is a guide, not a rigid scheme; a particular emotion in a particular client may mean something different
- ⚠️ Do not interpret the emotion for the client — offer a map, do not explain
Source: van Deurzen E. 2002, 2012; van Deurzen & Arnold-Baker, 2022
Materials are informational and educational and summarize publicly available scientific sources. They are not medical or psychological advice, are not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, and do not replace consultation with a qualified professional.