1-ON-1 · ONLINE ON ZOOM
The Work of Byron Katie, one thought at a time
Bring the thought that keeps coming back. We'll question it together with four simple questions, wherever you are.
No preparation needed. You don't need to have read Byron Katie.
2023
4
Free
Trained at Byron Katie's School
Continents of clients
20-minute intro call
SOUND FAMILIAR?
Most people arrive with one thought they can't put down
"My mother should respect my choices."
"I'm falling behind everyone my age."
"He should have called."
"If I slow down, everything falls apart."
Usually it's a thought you've argued with for years. The Work doesn't argue with it. It asks whether it's true.
WHAT IS THE WORK OF BYRON KATIE?
A simple way to question the thoughts that hurt
The Work is a method of self-inquiry developed by Byron Katie in 1986. You take one stressful thought, ask four questions, then turn it around. There are no right answers. You're just looking.
THEN THE TURNAROUND
After the four questions, you flip the thought: "She doesn't respect me" becomes "I don't respect her" or "She does respect me." Then you find real examples of each.
THE FOUR QUESTIONS
01
Is it true?
Yes or no. Just notice what comes up.
02
Can you absolutely know that it's true?
A slower, second look.
03
How do you react when you believe that thought?
What happens in your body, and how you treat the person.
04
Who would you be without the thought?
Same situation, minus the belief.
HOW IT WORKS
Three steps, starting free
01
Free intro call
20 minutes on Zoom. You tell me what's going on, I explain how sessions run, and we decide together whether it's a fit.
02
Your first session
60 or 90 minutes on Zoom. Bring one situation that's bothering you.
03
Weekly, if you want
5 sessions over five weeks for a specific theme, or 10 over ten weeks for a long-standing pattern.
Ways to work with me
Free intro call
on Zoom
30 min
1-1 Sessions
on Zoom, wherever you are
60 min
First "steps" Package
5 sessions
Weekly sessions on one theme
Deep dive package
on Zoom, wherever you are
Fortnightly
For organisations
Workshops designed for your team or group
Custom
Fees are shared on the intro call.
ABOUT ME
I'm Deepa Swamy
I spent years in finance and consulting (chartered accountant, PwC, KPMG, an MBA from IIM Bangalore) before I came to The Work during a career break as a mother. I trained at Byron Katie's nine-day School in Los Angeles in 2023 and at three intensives in Ojai, and I've facilitated clients across the US, Europe, Asia and Australia.
QUESTIONS
What people ask before booking
Is this therapy?
⌄
No. Therapy usually explores your history and why you feel the way you do. The Work checks whether one stressful belief holds up. Many people use it alongside therapy.
Is it right for me?
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It suits you if a thought about a relationship, family, work, money or health keeps looping and you're willing to question it. It isn't the right fit if you want someone to tell you what to do, or you need medical or psychiatric care right now.
Do I need to know anything about Byron Katie first?
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No. I'll guide you through every step. You can also learn The Work for free at thework.com.
How many sessions will I need?
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Some people bring one situation and one session is enough. For a long-standing pattern, people usually choose the 5- or 10-session package.
Is it online?
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Yes, all 1-on-1 sessions are on Zoom, so you can join from anywhere.
What's your cancellation policy?
⌄
[TBC]
What are Byron Katie's four questions?
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Is it true? Can you absolutely know that it's true? How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought? Who would you be without the thought? After the four questions, you turn the thought around and look for examples of how the opposite could be just as true.
What does a facilitator of The Work do?
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A facilitator asks the questions and holds the space while you find your own answers. I don't give advice or tell you what to think. My job is to help you stay with each question long enough to really look.
What is the Judge-Your-Neighbor Worksheet?
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It's a one-page worksheet Byron Katie created to help you write down your stressful thoughts about a person or situation, so you have something specific to question. You can download it free at thework.com.
Can I do The Work on my own?
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Yes. The Work is free to learn, and many people practise it alone with the worksheet. A facilitator helps when a thought is hard to question honestly by yourself, or when you keep slipping back into the story.