The Couple and Family Therapist's Notebook by Katherine M. Hertlein PhD Dawn Viers PhD & Associates

Author:Katherine M. Hertlein, PhD Dawn Viers, PhD & Associates
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781317760603
Publisher: Routledge

Instructions

For this activity, the therapist will need to first gather the materials for making the mask. These include newspaper strips, balloons, and a papier-mache medium. If desired, purchased papier-mache mix can be used; however, a homemade mixture of flour and water, mixed to a thin, sticky consistency, also works well. Stockpile other materials to decorate masks, including markers, feathers, fake jewels, ribbon or yarn, and paint. If the therapist or client is unable or uninterested in creating a three-dimensional mask using papier-mache and balloons, a paper plate glued to a stick can be decorated and used as a mask.

Prepare the work area with newspaper or a plastic tablecloth to protect carpets and other hard-to-clean areas. The therapist should prepare the papier-mache mixture and lay out the newspaper strips. The client or therapist will then need to blow up a balloon to a shape approximating a face. The client should be encouraged to create his or her own mask. To do this, dip the newspaper strips in the papier-mâché mixture and cover one-half of the balloon. To make a nose or ears, crumple newspaper into the appropriate shape and cover with several strips of newspaper covered in the papier-mache mixture to adhere the appendage to the mask. Place the completed mask on a bowl, face side up, to dry (the balloon will roll over onto the mask if laid on a flat surface). Put the mask in a well-ventilated place to dry; it will initially smell like wet cement.

Let the mask dry between therapy sessions, or until all of the newspaper is dry to the touch. Once dry, pop the balloon to reveal the mask. It is now ready to be decorated. Since the mask is meant to identify covert as well as overt emotions, encourage the client to decorate both sides of the mask. The therapist should direct the client to decorate the outside of the mask to reflect expressed feelings, traits, and emotions, while the inside of the mask should reflect hidden emotions. Encourage the client to use different media to decorate the mask, as suggested previously. Making and decorating the mask will usually take two therapy sessions.

After the mask is complete, set aside time for the client and his or her family to discuss the process and meaning of the mask. Questions can include the following:

What was the process of making the mask like for you? How did you decide what traits and emotions to highlight on each side of the mask?

To whom do you show your outside face? To whom do you show your inside face?

(To family) Do you agree with the representation of the mask? Why or why not? In what circumstances have you seen the traits and emotions shown on both sides of the mask? In what ways?

What would help you show your hidden emotions and traits? When would it be appropriate to show your inside face? What stops you from showing your inside face?

Do you believe others in your family have some of the

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.