Pull up a chair: Matthew Pugh on the use and potential of chairwork

The Psychologist: June 2017, with a 2024 update

This BPS article from Matthew Pugh, discusses the concept and application of chairwork, a powerful therapeutic tool, which allows clients to engage in dialogues addressing unresolved emotions, self-criticism, or inner conflicts.

Chair-based interventions can help clients to externalise emotions, confront challenging subjects, and explore multiple perspectives using techniques such as the empty-chair exercise, two-chair dialogue, and chairwork role-plays.

Read the article on the BPS website

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DR MATTHEW PUGH is a Clinical Psychologist, Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, Advanced Schema Therapist, Voice Dialogue Facilitator, and chairwork practitioner. He is a Teaching Fellow with University College London and Lead Clinical Resource Developer with Psychology Tools.