Depth-Oriented Sessions Training

For Clinicians and Creative Group Leaders

In private sessions, as in more traditional forms of Narrative Therapy, we can collaborate with clients in a meaning-making exercise. This is facilitated through the use of a deep questioning that evoke a narrative arc, based on key phrases that the clients use right from the first meeting; in fact, we can begin every session, with every client, by asking them to tell us their story…not the story of their problems or past treatments, but the story of themselves. Often the first thing that they tell us, is the window into the most wounded parts of their souls.

Everyone has a story. The goal is to discover what that story is:

Some don’t know their story.
Some have lost the thread.
Others are in need of a revision, or a resolution of conflict.
Some have never been listened to; others are in need of response.
Some people’s stories are populated with ‘good’ and ‘evil’ characters, that are in need of integration.
Other stories have lost all meaning or energy.

We serve as dramaturgs (or midwives) to these stories; we not only need to listen with three ears, but to ask the right questions…those that will help them to unravel the riddles that may be dividing them, from themselves.

The FYV method was built around a formal playwriting exercise, but even in individual sessions, the ‘writing cure’ is a potent clinical resource. This doesn’t mean that clients should all be doing homework! The dramaturgical approach can be used with clients who don’t write a thing over the course of the work; they can simply fill in the blanks of sentences, or unpack their own references.

Clinicians who are interested in learning this ‘dramaturgical’ approach will be led through a case presentation, as well as a live demonstration of the method. Presentations have been held at the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, the National Institute for Psychotherapies, and the Congress for Personal Construct Psychology.

“Everyone was appreciative of your presentation and thought it was an excellent piece of clinical work. It was moving and aesthetically engaging.”
-Sandy Shapiro, PhD, Director Trauma Program, National Institute for Psychotherapies

For information on fees and scheduling contact info@findyourvoice.us