Identifying the situations in which the stamps activate most strongly — the "hotspots". Knowing them, the client can prepare in advance.
Step-by-step guide
- Review all SAs over several sessions: "In which situations does AO ≠ DO most often?"
- Find the common thread: "Is there a kind of situation where you "get stuck"?"
- Link to the stamps: "Criticism from the boss → the stamp 'I'm not good enough' → I withdraw"
- Build a hotspot map: situation → stamp → typical reaction
- Prepare a plan: "When I feel the stamp activating — I will pause and ask: what do I want?"
- Practice: role-play a hotspot in session with the new behavior
When to use
- In the middle phase of therapy
- When enough SAs have accumulated to analyze the pattern
Key phrases
Looking across our last eight situations, I see a pattern: your stamp fires most when someone in authority gives you feedback. Let's give that zone a name and build a small plan for when you notice you are there.
Follow-up questions
Do you recognize the shape of the hotspot?
What tells you that you are inside it — the first signal?
What is the one-sentence plan for when you notice it?
When is the next likely hotspot in your week?
Alternative phrasings
Hotspots are not weaknesses — they are trailheads.
We can map more than one — most people have two or three.
Warnings
- ⚠️ Hotspots are not "weaknesses". They are zones where the old stamps are strongest.
- ⚠️ Normalize this.
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.