CC22 Keynote 03 - Updating the Empty Chair Psychodrama within Couple Therapy - Stan Tatkin, PsyD

The empty chair psychodrama was first made popular by Fritz Perls, founder of Gestalt therapy. It has since been adapted into Redecision Therapy, The Developmental Model, Voice Dialogue, Family Constellation, and even Cognitive-Behavioral therapy. PACT has adapted this approach for use within the couple session when consistent projection or projective identification processes impede the forward development of one or both partners. This particular technique uses Self and Object Relations theory to capture real time archaic self and object representations that maintain an ego syntonic, regressed relationship with one (or more) original caregiver(s). The psychodrama provides an opportunity for the couple therapist to bring this maladaptive early relationship to light and to make strides toward ego dystonic rejection of the regressive behavior.

Learning Objectives:

1. To be able to describe the empty chair psychodrama set up.

2. To be able to detail the task of the empty chair exercise and describe the goal.

3. To be able to identify the real time self and object representations that arise during the psychodrama.