Sculpting the Family

Abstract

In family sculpting the members of a family create a physical representation of their relationships at one point in time by arranging their bodies in space. The techniques, rationale, and uses of this method no described.

Marriage and Family Therapy Assessment

“…The Kvebaek Family Sculpting Technique (KFST) (Cromwell, Fournier, & Kvebaek, 1980) is a self-report instrument that integrates aspects of "family sculpting" (Duhl, Kantor, & Duhl, 1974;Papp, Silverstein, & Carter, 1973;Simon, 1972) by highlighting closeness and distance among members, triangulation within the family, and the degree of influence held by each family member. The KFST requires that figurines representing family members be placed on what resembles a chess board (i.e., a 100 square grid).…”

Using Family Sculptures in the Family Science Classroom

“…With an emphasis on the systemic nature of families, family sculpturing has been defined as simply as a physical arrangement of family members or objects that expresses the relationships within the family at a particular point in time (Simon, 1972). Other definitions are more complex.…”

“…One of the techniques used by teachers, family life educators, and therapists to improve their students' or clients' family lives is family sculpturing (Bell, 1986;Constantine, 1978;Duhl, 1983;Hearn & Lawrence, 1981;Papp, Silverstein, & Carter, 1973;Satir, 1972;Simon, 1972). Although this technique may appear similar to art therapy (Landgarten, 1987), its use in this assignment is primarily educational in nature.…”

Family Sculpting: I. Some doubts and some possibilities

“…Family sculpting is now an accepted technique within the repertoire of the family therapist (Simon, 1972;Duhl et al, 1973;Walrond-Skinner, 1976). I t is most often used to help family members to become aware of feelings about one another which they might find difficult to put into words.…”