We frequently struggle to help our clients get out of their heads and into the present moment. Improvisation is a powerful tool in the therapy room to help people let go of their fixed identities and experience more freedom, spontaneity, and aliveness. It is especially useful with couples, who often get stuck in limiting relational patterns. In this video, you get to see the transformation of a married couple as they participate in various theater games that help them creatively explore common themes that most couples face, such as: power, competition, dealing with differences, vulnerability, conflict, mutuality, and sex. Dr. Wiener will show you how to create a safe space for your clients to experiment with different ways of being and how to facilitate insight-oriented discussions about the exercises, so that they can discover a host of options and possibilities they never knew they had.
Although many innovators in our field claim that their approaches work for all populations, Wiener freely (and refreshingly) admits that many couples are not open or interested in trying out these exercises; but these improvisations techniques are indeed a valuable resource to have in your therapy toolbox. If you find yourself feeling restless with therapy as usual, this video may add some creative spark to your practice.
By watching this video, you will:
• Understand the components of Rehearsals for Growth™ and how to apply these improvisational techniques to assessment and therapy with couples.
• Learn how to facilitate discussions that will enrich each couple’s understanding of their relational tendencies, enabling them to try out new ways of being.
• Find more ease in transitioning between action methods and talk therapy.
Length of video: 1:41:00
English subtitles available
Individual ISBN-10 #: 1-60124-287-5
Group ISBN-10 #: 1-60124-288-3
Group ISBN-13 #: 978-1-60124-288-4
Daniel J. Wiener, PhD, MFT, is a Professor at Central Connecticut State University. He is the founder of Rehearsals for Growth™ and offers trainings both nationally and internationally. He is the author of Rehearsals for Growth and Beyond Talk Therapy.