Through the presentation of two clinical vignettes – one from a couple therapy and another one from a family therapy- therapeutic efficacy of utilizing graphic tasks, like graphic-projective instruments (Anzieu, Chabert, 1997), or free children’s drawings or thematic drawings as well, is discussed. Sometimes, in fact, the creation of metaphors both by patients and therapist helps in representing what is unapproachable at a verbal level - because of anguish surplus at the moment - through an allusive technique. A couple failed three trials of IVF. The holding of the theme of infertility by the therapist allows the couple to mobilize itself towards the external relationships. In a second moment the infertility problems are symbolized by the husband in a very amazing way through a graphic projective instrument (Greco, 2006) in which he traces a sort of “broken penis”. An insight -although weak- about the meaning of his drawing will lead this man to ask an individual therapeutic work some months later. In a migrant family therapy, the anguishing drawing of the two children about family arrival to Italy allows parents to express their anguish about the recent death of their third son, that obliged them to “fly” away from their country, without any preparation for themselves and for their children.
Greco, O., Mediation techniques in Couple and Family Therapy: two clinical vignettes, <<REVUE INTERNATIONALE DE PSYCHANALYSE DU COUPLE ET DE LA FAMILLE>>, 2012; 11 (1): 25-38 [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/56212]
Mediation techniques in Couple and Family Therapy: two clinical vignettes
Greco, Ondina
2012
Abstract
Through the presentation of two clinical vignettes – one from a couple therapy and another one from a family therapy- therapeutic efficacy of utilizing graphic tasks, like graphic-projective instruments (Anzieu, Chabert, 1997), or free children’s drawings or thematic drawings as well, is discussed. Sometimes, in fact, the creation of metaphors both by patients and therapist helps in representing what is unapproachable at a verbal level - because of anguish surplus at the moment - through an allusive technique. A couple failed three trials of IVF. The holding of the theme of infertility by the therapist allows the couple to mobilize itself towards the external relationships. In a second moment the infertility problems are symbolized by the husband in a very amazing way through a graphic projective instrument (Greco, 2006) in which he traces a sort of “broken penis”. An insight -although weak- about the meaning of his drawing will lead this man to ask an individual therapeutic work some months later. In a migrant family therapy, the anguishing drawing of the two children about family arrival to Italy allows parents to express their anguish about the recent death of their third son, that obliged them to “fly” away from their country, without any preparation for themselves and for their children.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.