Responding to events in the sessions

The therapist responds to within-session events in two ways:

1. In quite an active way, to manage or contain events

2. In a reflective way, helping the dyad to think about what has happened and to arrive at a shared understanding of the events

Directive responses

There is a spectrum of active responses spanning from asking questions or setting tasks to focus the content of the sessions through to actively stepping in.

Stepping in may involve collaboratively making images or, perhaps the most active response, which is to halt an interaction or even terminate a session.

Reflective responses

The therapist may reflect with the dyad on

• the process of the sessions

• the making of the art and the final images

• thoughts and feelings which have emerged

Related goal

This step is related to achieving the goal dealing with events.