Processwork

Radical inclusion

In Deep Democracy we believe every voice matters—not just the loud ones, not just the ones you like, but even the awkward, angry, quiet, weird, scared, or disruptive ones. This applies to your inner world (thoughts, feelings, dreams), your relationships, and groups/societies. It invites all parts of the system, even the parts we usually ignore. Every voice (inside you or a group) is trying to bring balance, healing, and wholeness. Instead of voting parts of yourself or your community off the island—invite them to tea.

Deep democracy of your inner world

Imagine Your Mind Is a Kingdom

In your inner kingdom, you’ve got voices (archetypes) such as:

The Responsible One
The Cool Rebel
The Anxious Worrier
The Inner Critic
The Dreamer
The part that says "Screw everything, let’s burn it down!"

Now, in regular life, you might only let the Responsible One or the People-Pleaser speak. But Deep Democracy says: “Hey, even the part of you that’s angry or ashamed or hiding in the corner—invite them to the table. They have wisdom too.”

Let’s say you’re about to give a speech and feel: “I’m excited!” (primary voice), but also: “I’m terrified I’ll mess up” (secondary voice)

Rather than push those away, Process Work says: Welcome them. Dialogue with them. They have something to teach you.

Sometimes, your fear might hold the key to being more real. Your inner rebel might be trying to protect your soul from burnout.

Group Deep Democracy

Now zoom out. Let’s say you’re in a team or community:

Some people are loud and confident.
Others are silent or grumbling.
Tensions are building.

Deep Democracy says: Don’t just go with the majority. Listen for what’s being left out.

That might be a marginalized voice in the room—or an energy nobody wants to talk about, like anger, grief, or power.

Mindell says: “If you don’t include all the voices, those rejected energies will erupt anyway—just in a more chaotic or destructive way.” We are thinking of sudden blowups, people quitting, silent sabotage.

Tools of Deep Democracy

Role switching: Try voicing the part you normally reject.
Amplification: Take a tiny signal (a sigh, a flinch, a weird dream) and explore it like a clue.
Facilitation: Help groups explore hot spots and unspoken dynamics.
Dreaming: See what the unconscious or “ghost roles” are trying to say.

Why It’s Cool

It helps you grow without cutting off parts of yourself.
It makes space for true dialogue and healing—not fake harmony.
It turns conflict into creativity.
It’s useful everywhere: therapy, leadership, activism, relationships, even your 3 a.m. inner monologue.

Origins of Processwork

Processwork was developed by Arnold Mindell. It is rooted in Jungian psychology, body awareness, dreams, quantum physics, and systems thinking. While both Lewis Deep Democracy and Mindell's Process-Oriented Psychology (Process Work) use the term “deep democracy,” they’re different approaches with some overlapping vibes.