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Drawing a family map: an experiential tool for engaging children in family therapy
Author(s) -
Dumont Raymonde H.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.52
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1467-6427
pISSN - 0163-4445
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-6427.2008.00429.x
Subject(s) - family therapy , experiential learning , psychology , set (abstract data type) , affection , representation (politics) , abstraction , inclusion (mineral) , developmental psychology , play therapy , grasp , psychotherapist , social psychology , mathematics education , computer science , epistemology , philosophy , politics , political science , law , programming language
Inclusion of children in the treatment process is a central aspect of the discipline of family therapy. Young children's verbal skill and level of abstraction may not be suited to ‘talking therapy’, but they have an intuitive grasp of family life which is invaluable, and their views and needs should be considered when effecting change in the family system. A method is offered to engage young children, adolescents and adults of divergent verbal skills into a shared process. It requires no special set‐up or tools, only paper and markers. Distance and proximity are represented in a simple map of the family, adding symbols for affection and conflict. A spatial representation of the family system is created, and may be referred to in the course of the therapy.