What is chairwork?
Chairwork, also known as the “two-chair technique,” is a powerful and dynamic therapeutic intervention that is used in psychotherapy. It is an experiential and interactive approach where clients engage in a dialogue or role-play with an empty chair or chairs representing different people or aspects of themselves. The technique is often employed to explore and resolve inner conflicts, emotional struggles, relationship difficulties, or unresolved issues. The basic process of chairwork involves the client imagining that someone or some part of themselves is sitting in one chair while they occupy another chair. The client then engages in a dialogue between the two “roles,” switching back and forth between chairs to express different perspectives, feelings, or thoughts. This method allows clients to externalise internal conflicts or conflicting aspects of the self, facilitating a deeper exploration of their experiences.
The origins of chairwork
The origins of chairwork are traced back to the field of Gestalt therapy, developed by Fritz Perls, where it was known as the “empty chair technique.” However, chairwork has since been integrated into various therapeutic modalities, including psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), and integrative approaches. It offers a unique and embodied way for clients to explore their emotions, thoughts, and relationships.
Benefits of chairwork
One of the primary benefits of chairwork is its ability to bring unexpressed thoughts and emotions into conscious awareness. By embodying different roles and engaging in dialogue, clients can access and explore their inner world in a more tangible and active way. This process often leads to increased self-awareness, insight, and emotional processing.
Chairwork can be particularly effective in addressing inner conflicts. For example, a client struggling with a decision or feeling torn between two choices can use chairwork to give voice to each option and explore the underlying emotions and motivations associated with each. By embodying different perspectives, clients can gain a clearer understanding of their values, desires, and fears, facilitating decision-making and fostering a greater sense of self-integration. Furthermore, chairwork can help explore unresolved issues or past traumas. For instance, a client who has experienced a painful breakup may be asked to imagine their ex-partner sitting in one chair while they occupy another. Through the dialogue, the client can express their unexpressed feelings, ask questions, seek closure, or work towards forgiveness. This process can be cathartic and transformative, allowing clients to release emotional baggage and find healing and resolution.
Chairwork can also be used to address relationship dynamics. In couples therapy, each partner can occupy a chair, representing their respective roles in the relationship. This technique provides a structured and safe space for partners to express their needs, frustrations, and desires, as well as to practice active listening and empathy. Through the dialogue, couples can gain insight into their patterns of interaction, learn new communication skills, and work towards building a healthier and more fulfilling relationship.
It is important to note that chairwork should be conducted by a trained therapist who can guide the process, create a safe and supportive environment, and help the client integrate the insights gained from the experience into their therapeutic journey. The therapist’s role is to facilitate the exploration, provide empathy and validation, and assist in the integration of the emotions and insights that arise during the chairwork session.
Chairwork and ACT therapy
The integration of chairwork into Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers therapists a valuable tool to support their clients in various aspects of personal growth and healing. This dynamic approach enhances the effectiveness of ACT therapy by providing a tangible and experiential framework for clients to explore their emotions, thoughts, and values, empowering them to live a more fulfilling and values-based life.
Chairwork within ACT therapy offers several benefits including:
- Self-awareness: Chairwork provides a platform for clients to delve deeper into their conflicting emotions, thoughts, and beliefs. Through engaging in dialogue with distinct parts of themselves, they can gain valuable insights and a greater understanding of their inner experiences. This heightened self-awareness allows for a more comprehensive exploration of their values and goals.
- Emotional processing: The experiential nature of chairwork enables clients to establish a profound connection with their emotions and values. By role-playing and engaging in dialogue, they can untangle complex emotional responses, express their feelings, and engage in the process of emotional processing. This fosters emotional growth and resilience, as well as a greater acceptance of their emotional experiences.
- Cognitive flexibility: Chairwork encourages clients to challenge thinking patterns and consider alternative viewpoints. By embodying different roles and engaging in dialogue, clients can practice cognitive defusion, which involves creating distance from their thoughts and recognising them as transient mental events. This promotes cognitive flexibility and expands their problem-solving abilities, allowing for more adaptive responses to challenging situations.
- Strengthened therapeutic alliance: Engaging in chairwork can deepen the therapeutic alliance between the client and therapist. Collaborating on creative adaptations and exploring different perspectives together fosters a sense of shared understanding and trust. The interactive nature of chairwork can also enhance the client’s engagement in therapy, as they actively participate in their own healing process. As clients express complex emotions, they often describe feeling deeply heard and understood by their therapist, which further strengthens alliance.
By incorporating chairwork into ACT therapy, therapists can help clients develop a deeper understanding of themselves, nurture emotional resilience, challenge unhelpful thought patterns, and foster a strong therapeutic relationship. These benefits support clients in their journey towards psychological flexibility and living a more values-based life. Our blog post, Harnessing the power of chairwork in online ACT therapy also explores specifically how chairwork can be integrated into online practice.