The Empty Chair Technique by Fritz Pearls

Opportunities are moments of change that allow people to make a decision and better their lives.  The volunteer I was working with got into a fight with her best friend eight years ago.  She has not seen nor talked with her since that time.  Even with the modern conveniences of Facebook and Twitter, she has not been able to find her friend.  My volunteer desperately wishes to say she is sorry and feels she cannot move on with her life until she does.  I suggested to her the empty chair technique.  

This technique was created by Fritz Pearls and it is part of Gestalt or the whole body concept (Wagner-Moore, 2004).  The technique itself involves the client using the empty chair as if it were the person they need to speak with.  They empty their emotions and thoughts into the chair and then discuss what the event meant to them.  The volunteer voiced her concerned that she would feel silly talking to a chair, even so she then asked to place her friend’s picture on the chair.  My volunteer was still hesitant but then she began to weep and confess how sorry she was for not saying she was sorry.  

By the end of the experiment, my volunteer expressed her gratitude to me for letting her talk to her friend.  It seemed as though the experience ended up being very meaningful for her.  I would definitely do this type of exercise during a counseling session for the following situations: job interview practice, conflict resolution practice, saying goodbye to a deceased loved one, and even weighing the pros and cons of a decision.  The main barrier is understanding.  The client needs to thoroughly understanding the meaning of the technique and its significance to them; otherwise they may not be open to it.