Difference between revisions of "Exaggeration Technique"
From Psychotherapedia
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:'''TH:''' And what does that impulse feel like? | :'''TH:''' And what does that impulse feel like? | ||
:'''PT:''' Like a volcano wants to explode in my chest! | :'''PT:''' Like a volcano wants to explode in my chest! | ||
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+ | Friedman<ref>Norman Friedman, "Fritz Perls's 'Layers' and the Empty Chair: A Reconsideration." The Gestalt Journal, XVI(2), Fall '93, pp. 95-118.</ref>wrote about empty chair work and has the following dialogue: | ||
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+ | :'''PT:''' My father never liked anything I did. | ||
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+ | :'''TH:''' What does that feel like? | ||
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+ | :'''PT:''' It feels like shit. I feel like shit. | ||
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+ | :'''TH:''' Could you tell him that now? | ||
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+ | :'''PT:''' "Dad, you're always criticizing me, always making me feel like I can't do anything right." | ||
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+ | :'''TH:''' (Pauses to see if she's with what she's seeing, then suggests): Switch over. | ||
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+ | :'''PT:''' (As dad): "Well, you know, honey, it's only because I love you so much that I want to see you shine." | ||
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+ | :'''TH:''' Switch back. | ||
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+ | :'''PT:''' "That's bullshit! If you love me so much, why are you always showing me my mistakes?" | ||
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+ | :'''PT:''' (As dad): "Well, someone has got to do it. How else will you learn to shape up?" | ||
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+ | :'''TH:''' What do you feel as dad? | ||
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+ | :'''PT:''' That she is a piece of shit. | ||
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+ | :'''TH:''' Could you tell that to her some more? Do it openly. |
Revision as of 09:08, 26 March 2011
- PT: I am feeling angry.
- TH: You don't appear to be angry.
- PT: It makes me really mad (smiles and makes slight movement of arm and and limp fist).
- TH: Can you show me with your fist how angry you are?
- PT: (makes fist)
- TH: And if you exaggerate that impulse what does your fist do?
- PT: (softly bangs arm of chair)
- TH: And if you allow yourself to feel the full experience of that anger what is it like?
- PT: Shows more force in movement.
- TH: And what does that impulse feel like?
- PT: Like a volcano wants to explode in my chest!
Friedman[1]wrote about empty chair work and has the following dialogue:
- PT: My father never liked anything I did.
- TH: What does that feel like?
- PT: It feels like shit. I feel like shit.
- TH: Could you tell him that now?
- PT: "Dad, you're always criticizing me, always making me feel like I can't do anything right."
- TH: (Pauses to see if she's with what she's seeing, then suggests): Switch over.
- PT: (As dad): "Well, you know, honey, it's only because I love you so much that I want to see you shine."
- TH: Switch back.
- PT: "That's bullshit! If you love me so much, why are you always showing me my mistakes?"
- PT: (As dad): "Well, someone has got to do it. How else will you learn to shape up?"
- TH: What do you feel as dad?
- PT: That she is a piece of shit.
- TH: Could you tell that to her some more? Do it openly.