A Carriage Viewed from Outside and from Inside
An Example of Using Story Cards in Settings of Individual Therapy or Group Therapy
There are various ways of using Story Cards in therapy. As in any other intervention, the therapist decides to use a specific therapeutic activity with the cards based upon the client’s needs and abilities as well as the therapeutic goals.
Here is an example of using our Story Cards in settings of individual therapy or group therapy:
The therapist suggests: “I invite you to choose a card depicting a carriage that you would like to work with today.” (or: “a carriage that you like the appearance of”)
The therapist then picks up Story Card No. 27 and reads the beginning of the story written on it, after saying: “Let’s imagine that your carriage says:
‘When others see me from the outside they think: This car…’ “
The therapist invites the client to complete the sentence and encourages him/her to enrich the description as much as possible.
During the third stage, the therapist encourages the client to try to imagine what the carriage looks like from the inside and to draw it on a piece of paper.
If s/he prefers, the client can verbally describe or write about the inner appearance of their carriage.
During the fourth stage, the therapist raises questions such as:
”What is similar in the ways your carriage looks like on the inside and on the outside? What is different?”/
”Is there something that your carriage carries inside and that you wish it could show on the outside too?
What could help the carriage to do so?”/
”Is there something that your carriage wishes it did not show or did not carry?”
To close the session the therapist invites the client to mention something on the inside or on the outside of the carriage that reminds them of something that they like in their own life.
*** When working with the same issue in settings of group or family therapy, each client chooses his/her own card and makes a drawing individually.
Clients are then encouraged to present their cards to other group members and to describe them. Those who wish can also share their stories and drawings with the group.
During the discussion, the therapist raises questions such as the ones above. In addition, the therapist can encourage members to mention things that they are curious about or like in the carriages of other members.
To learn how to use these cards and others, please join one of our online workshops
Written by Gali Salpeter - Story & Therapy
Expressive Therapist. Spec. Drama and NarrativeTherapy (M.A.)(NFKUT)(I.C.E.T)
