Feeling the Tug: Creative Use of Ropes and Felt Board to Promote Family Change

Abstract

Experiential metaphor has been used in marriage and family therapy for many years. One example of metaphor application involves the use of ropes and felt board to identify and explore relationships in families. In this case, the mother of a son who was socially isolated is treated by a marriage and family therapy intern, using ropes and felt board as media to exemplify the tugs of relationships, demands, and expectations. Responding to the metaphors, the mother changed relationships with her son, other children, and her former and current husbands. Literature supporting the use of metaphors in therapeutic contexts sets the stage for the description of the efficacy of ropes as metaphor in therapy. The case study offers a detailed account of techniques used.

Use of metaphors in Chinese family therapy: a qualitative study

“…Additionally, just as Bruhn et al . () prescribed family sculpture to reframe the families' interpersonal structures, therapists in our study also adopted spatialization and gesture similar to family sculpture to achieve reframing (see examples from F1 and F7). All the above findings reflect the integration of Chinese culture with western‐imported family therapy methods and the important role that metaphor plays in Chinese family therapy.…”

“…For example, results showed that Chinese therapists would adopt stories from both Chinese history (such as the story of Xu Shu jin Cao ying in F15) and biographies of Chinese famous figures (such as the story of Mao Zedong in F2), and foreign novels (for example, 'The Adventure of Tom Sawyer' in F16) to facilitate the families' awareness and change in beliefs. Additionally, just as Bruhn et al (2006) prescribed family sculpture to reframe the families' interpersonal structures, therapists in our study also adopted spatialization and gesture similar to family sculpture to achieve reframing (see examples from F1 and F7). All the above findings reflect the integration of Chinese culture with westernimported family therapy methods and the important role that metaphor plays in Chinese family therapy.…”

“…In the western world, the use of metaphor in psychotherapy has long occupied the interests of theorists and practitioners from different therapy models, including psychoanalysis, cognitive‐behavioural, family and group therapy (Abbatiello, ; Bruhn et al ., ; Gans, ; Long and Lepper, ). The most commonly used metaphors were those generated through the analogical, symbolical and figurative oral language of therapists and clients.…”

“…Metaphors can also be expressed non-verbally through art, family sculptures, games, sand play, toys, psychodrama, dance and rituals. These nonverbal metaphors serve to access information and feelings otherwise inhibited by verbalization (Bruhn et al, 2006;Chesley et al, 2008;Dayton, 2005;Drucker, 1994;Gillis and Gass, 1993;Hanes, 1995;Manicom and Boronska, 2003;Samaritter, 2009).…”

Incorporating Creativity into Relational Cultural Theory in Couples Counseling

“…Combining traditional talk counseling with creative interventions offers clients new and creative perspectives to explore their concerns (Metzl, 2020) and access information which they may have trouble verbalizing (Bruhn et al, 2006). Gottman and Silver (2015) note that playful activities can be used as a mechanism to build and cultivate friendship in couple relationships when little foundation seems existent.…”