The use of objects in therapy sessions
USE OF OBJECTS AND ART MATERIALS PROVIDES ALTERNATIVE TO TALKING THERAPY WAY TO CONNECT OR CONTAIN DIFFICULT EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS, EXPLORE RELATIONSHIPS, FACILITATEÂ GROUNDING AND MINDFULNESS IN THE SESSION.
STONES/ BUTTONS
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Exploration of relationships in the social group (family, work place, friends) helping clients to identify where they are in relation to others and work through behavioural patterns and themes within the group;
"Parts of self" work: exploration of attributes assigned to the different stones;
Creating life timeline with different stones marking significant moments and events;
Grounding and mindfulness: exploring texture, colours, shape, size, weight, asymmetries, temperature, making arrangements and learning to notice emotions it may bring;
Storytelling: story stones (painted pebbles) used to aid story telling and may represent particular story or selection of images to prompt creation of a story.
Working online? Ask your client to collect pebbles/buttons before the session or make a photo with stones arranged on the surface.
EMOTION/MOOD/ ASSOCIATIVE THERAPEUTIC CARDS
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Exploration of thoughts, feelings and emotions: cards represent images of different emotions or relational situations designed to help building emotional vocabulary, identify feelings and gain insight in relationships. Great example Margot Sunderland's Emotion cards;
Stimulation of creativity and communication: storytelling cards contain verbal prompts and images to aid creation of a story;
Exploration of repressed experiences and blocked feelings: associative cards feature illustrated metaphors that enable people override their defence mechanisms and get to their vulnerable self. Read more about Metaphoric associative cards here.