Therapy Techniques - Family Sculpting (Psychodrama)

By:   Kimberly Swanson, MS-Psy, CNA

Family Sculpting was developed by Duhl, Kantor, and Duhl (1973).   This technique is used when a family member recreates their family system and gives a demonstration of their family relationships during a specific time frame within their life.  The family therapist can use  sculpting by asking family members to physically arrange the family through psychodrama like postures (Rosenthal, 2008).  This is techniques is good for adolescents because it gives them a chance to nonverbally show their perception and emotions about the family.  Family sculpting  is an effective diagnostic instrument that gives the opportunity to expand to further therapeutic interventions (Duhl, Kantor, Duhl, 1973).

Reference

Duhl, F. S., Kantor, D., & Duhl, B. S. (1973). Learning Space and action in family therapy: A primer of sculpting. In D. Bloch (Ed.), Techniques of family psychotherapy: A primer. New York: Grune & Stratton.

Rosenthal, H.  (2008).  Encyclopedia of counseling (3^rd Edition).  New York:  Routledge.