![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Poet on October 10, 2003, at 12:41:12
Has anyone's therapist ever used this technique? What you do is imagine that someone or some part of yourself is sitting in an empty chair and you talk to and for him/her.
In my session, yesterday, I said that the little girl inside of me is dead. My therapist said, no, my inner child just feels abandoned. We got into my earliest memories and then she told me to imagine that my three year old self is sitting in the other chair. What would I tell her to make her feel safe? Why is she scared of people? What does she like to do for fun?
At the end of the session, she said my assignment is to get to know that three year old. I should start by walking with her down the hall, make sure she's safe in my car and talk to her.
Has anyone else ever done the empty chair technique to find their inner child? Or is my all ready pretty out there therapist way out on this one?
My therapist didn't say I had to physically nurture my inner child, but I did buy her a big sugar cookie with my cafe latte this morning. Hmm, I think that means I am really out there.
Poet
Posted by tinydancer on October 10, 2003, at 13:06:09
In reply to Gestalt Therapy- the empty chair, posted by Poet on October 10, 2003, at 12:41:12
I think it sounds really neat what your T is doing. You must be very brave and willing to recover to experience that. I have DID and I know that for myself dealing with my alters can be very frightening so I admire what he is doing. I say keep on track with it!
Posted by Penny on October 10, 2003, at 13:18:29
In reply to Gestalt Therapy- the empty chair, posted by Poet on October 10, 2003, at 12:41:12
I had a hard time imagining myself as a young child, so my former therapist had me get pictures of myself as a young child (5 years old) to talk to - didn't talk to an empty chair, but similar idea.
Actually, I like the talking to an empty chair idea. I think it helps make your inner child more 'real' to you, which can help you learn to be kinder to yourself.
When I had a hard time imagining myself, my T also had me imagine how I would talk to the little girl I was a nanny for - she was four at the time. That, for me, is actually easier than talking to my inner child, b/c I have a much easier time loving her than loving myself. But when I remind myself that I once was as innocent and undeserving of harsh criticism as that little girl I nannied - that sort of hits home. I think, "Would I talk to her this way? If so, why would I talk to vulnerable self this way?"
So, no, I don't think your therapist is that far out there at all.
And I think your sugar cookie treat is similar to Fallsfall's ice cream thing - a good way to nurture that inner child.
P
Posted by fallsfall on October 11, 2003, at 1:48:23
In reply to Re: Gestalt Therapy- the empty chair, posted by Penny on October 10, 2003, at 13:18:29
2:46 AM Eating a chocolate chip cookie that my daughter made today. Mmmmmm
Posted by EscherDementian on October 11, 2003, at 2:46:59
In reply to Gestalt Therapy- the empty chair, posted by Poet on October 10, 2003, at 12:41:12
I have participated and also used this technique with children. It's actually a wonderful outlook and approach. i'll tell a little bit about it if anyone's interested.
THE book to learn about it, written by Frederick Perls, MD, PhD is called "Gestalt Therapy" .
It's worth perusing.
Also includes therapeutic techniques and a series of 15-18 experiments you can try with yourself.
Some of it's humourously a 'time capsule'...
Escher
Posted by EscherDementian on October 11, 2003, at 3:04:25
In reply to Re: Gestalt Therapy- the empty chair, posted by EscherDementian on October 11, 2003, at 2:46:59
Just remembered another great book about Gestalt - specifically with children, if my feeble memory serves; "Put Your Mother On The Ceiling"
(the other one for adults and psychs, if you know any ;)
Escher
Posted by Poet on October 11, 2003, at 11:12:07
In reply to Re: P.S. ~another title, posted by EscherDementian on October 11, 2003, at 3:04:25
I guess talking to an empty chair isn't so strange after all. I'll check out the recommended reading. I hope I get to talk to teenage me soon so I can share a bottle of wine with her and talk about why we couldn't get dates.
Poet
Posted by HannahW on October 11, 2003, at 21:34:11
In reply to Re: P.S. ~another title Thank You » EscherDementian, posted by Poet on October 11, 2003, at 11:12:07
> I hope I get to talk to teenage me soon so I can share a bottle of wine with her and talk about why we couldn't get dates.
LOL! I had a therapist once that wanted me to talk to an empty chair. Does she want you to do it in front of her? It was a disaster for me, because I felt like such a fool, although there's nothing foolish about it. I'm glad you're able to do it.
Hannah
Posted by Poet on October 13, 2003, at 9:45:54
In reply to Re: P.S. ~another title Thank You, posted by HannahW on October 11, 2003, at 21:34:11
Hi Hannah,
I can't believe I didn't go online over the weekend. Where are my priorities? Good thing my job is such a waste of brain matter that I can hang out with Dr. Bob and the gang while getting paid for it. Tee hee.
I did talk to Age 3 Me in front of my therapist. She guided me: "what would you say to her to make her feel safe here?" At the end of the session she told me that my assignment was to walk with little me down the hall, and then imagine she's with me in the car and talk to her. Get to know her.
I think my T decided to try the empty chair on me because I told her I wanted to quit therapy the week before. Plus in the empty chair session I told her my inner child is dead.
I didn't feel foolish, so maybe this will work for me. I'll let you know how it goes.
Poet
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Psychology | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.