Gestalt Therapy Empty Chair with past relative: Counseling Role-play

Summary

In this emotional dialogue, a person grapples with unresolved feelings towards their recently deceased grandmother. They express hope for her peace and share cherished memories of their time together, including summers filled with love and warmth. The speaker also acknowledges the complexity of the grandmother's relationship with their mother, recognizing that while they can't change the past, they can express their own love and appreciation. The conversation is a cathartic journey of letting go and finding peace.

Takeaways

• 😢 The speaker is dealing with the recent loss of their grandmother and has unresolved feelings and issues they wish to address.
• 🗣️ The speaker is encouraged to have a conversation with their grandmother as if she is present, and then to speak from her perspective.
• 💔 The speaker expresses regret for not being part of their grandmother's life in the last 10 years and hopes for her to be unburdened and at peace.
• 🛏️ The speaker recalls sleeping in their grandmother's room and feeling her love through her possessions, poems, and prayers.
• 👵 The speaker appreciates aspects of their grandmother's personality, such as her strength and vitality, and expresses respect for her.
• 🍎 The speaker cherishes memories of childhood summers spent with their grandmother, feeling safe, loved, and enjoying activities together.
• 👧 The speaker acknowledges the shared memories and feelings with their sister, Amanda, and the love they both have for their grandmother.
• 🤔 The speaker experiences tension in their jaw, which they interpret as a sign of doubt about whether their grandmother felt the same love towards their mother.
• 💬 The speaker's jaw tension leads to a realization that they can trust their own feelings and experiences but cannot change the complex relationship between their grandmother and mother.
• 🙏 The speaker finds comfort in expressing their own feelings and experiences of love and appreciation, acknowledging they cannot control others' emotions.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the conversation in the script?

The main purpose of the conversation is to help the speaker address unresolved issues with their recently deceased grandmother, by speaking to her as if she were present and then responding from her perspective.

How does the speaker feel about their grandmother's death?

The speaker feels regret for not being part of their grandmother's life for the last 10 years and wishes to express their feelings and thoughts to her.

What emotions does the speaker express towards their grandmother?

The speaker expresses love, appreciation, and a desire for their grandmother to feel unburdened and loved, as well as regret for not being more involved in her life.

What memories does the speaker share from their childhood with their grandmother?

The speaker shares memories of playing in the apple orchard, playing with Hot Wheels in the basement, and enjoying the food their grandmother made for them during summers spent together.

What is the speaker's perception of their grandmother's strength and vitality?

The speaker perceives their grandmother as a strong, vibrant woman with a lot of personal power, which they always felt and respected.

How does the speaker address the issue of resentment?

The speaker acknowledges that they are not holding onto any resentment and wants to convey that they are in a better place where resentment is not in their heart.

What does the speaker want their grandmother to know about their feelings towards her?

The speaker wants their grandmother to know that they are not angry, they love her, and they have beautiful memories of their time together.

What is the role of the person assisting the speaker in the conversation?

The assistant's role is to guide the speaker through the process of addressing their grandmother and responding from her perspective, providing support without interrupting the process.

What physical sensation does the speaker notice during the conversation?

The speaker notices that their jaws feel tight, which they interpret as a sign of difficulty in trusting the positive aspects of their relationship with their grandmother.

How does the speaker reconcile the complexity of their grandmother's relationship with their mother?

The speaker acknowledges the complexity and uniqueness of their grandmother's relationship with their mother, understanding that it's not their place to change it and focusing on expressing their own feelings instead.

What is the speaker's realization about their control over the situation?

The speaker realizes that they have control over expressing their own feelings and severing their heart from the unresolved issues between their grandmother and mother.