Ecotherapy in Practice: A Buddhist Model by Brazier Caroline

Author:Brazier, Caroline [Brazier, Caroline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Routledge

Family sculpts

Sculpting is a projective method commonly used in therapy. It involves using objects such as stones, coins or small toys to represent members of a social group. It can sometimes be used to explore more abstract groupings such as a set of concepts or ideas. This method is often used to represent families, either now, or at some point in the past.

To create a sculpt, pebbles or other small objects are chosen to represent each person in the family. These are arranged (on the ground or some other flat surface) to show relationships between family members. They can show closeness and distance between different people, and reveal sub-groups or alliances within the family as a whole. Creating sculpts involves both conscious and unconscious processes. Objects are ideally placed intuitively, as this often reveals dynamics between people which were not previously recognised. Though objects may be selected to symbolise aspects of the person or relationship and deliberately placed in particular positions, it often turns out that there is other significance in the choice of objects and their positions. These unintentional factors can reveal previously unrecognised connections and associations.

Groups can use sculpting to explore their own dynamics. Such sculpts may be created collectively, with each person placing an object representing himself in a position to reflect how he feels himself to be aligned in the group. This will involve some negotiation between group members. Sculpts can also be made by participants, each placing themselves within a given space in relation to others. Alternatively, a series of sculpts can be made by different participants, each showing how they see alliances and connections within the group. Multiple sculpts like this can reveal different aspects of group experience and show a variety of ways of viewing the same process. No sculpt should be seen as an absolute representation of ‘how things are’.

Working outdoors, natural materials can be used to create sculpts. Because space is not limited as it is indoors, sculpts can be made big enough for people to walk around within them, which can itself reveal new facets of relationships. Other times, however, sculpts can be tiny, made using small objects on a flat surface. In either case, working directly in the landscape grounds the work in the physical. Existing features such as trees or rocks can be incorporated. Participants can even find naturally occurring groups of objects, like the hawthorn and the oak described in the last chapter, which function as ‘ready-made’ sculpts.

Facilitating sculpts

When working with sculpts, it is useful for the facilitator to give broad instructions and then let people interpret these in their own way. Sometimes people will complete sculpts before discussing them. Other times it is possible to facilitate the process as it unfolds, exploring the different elements as they are placed. In either case, the facilitator may observe:

• Is the sculpt based on current or historic material? Does it represent a fixed time or is it more generalised?

• What objects are chosen? Look at shape, colour, weight, size and material of objects chosen and see if they spark associations.

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