Difference between revisions of "Exaggeration Technique"

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m (Protected "Exaggeration Technique" ([edit=autoconfirmed] (indefinite) [move=autoconfirmed] (indefinite)))
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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 08:08, 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.
  1. ↑ Norman Friedman, "Fritz Perls's 'Layers' and the Empty Chair: A Reconsideration." The Gestalt Journal, XVI(2), Fall '93, pp. 95-118.
    2. Retrieved from "http://www.unifiedpsychotherapyproject.org/psychotherapedia/index.php?title=Exaggeration_Technique&oldid=54410"