Psychodrama I: Mirror and Double

Mirror Technique for non-verbal visual feedback

The Mirror technique in psychodrama has the function of giving back to the protagonist an objective image of his behavior, as perceived by others.

In couples therapy, where there is often a disconnect between what one thinks one is conveying and what the other receives, this tool is revealing.

An "auxiliary self" (which can be the therapist or even the couple under direction) accurately mimics the patient's posture, gestures, and facial expression, like a silent reflex.

If a patient says "I am always open to listen" but says it with folded arms and a frown, the "mirror" replicates that closed posture.

Seeing himself reflected from the outside, the patient confronts the discrepancy between his self-image and his actual behavior.

This generates a shock of recognition that is often more effective than any verbal explanation, allowing the nonverbal communication to be adjusted to be congruent with the desired message.

The Double as the voice of the unspoken

The Double is a technique where the therapist (or an assistant) stands behind or beside the patient, adopting the same physical posture, and verbalizes the thoughts, emotions or truths that the patient is feeling but does not dare or does not know how to express.

The Double acts as an extension of the patient's "I", giving voice to the underlying, unconscious.

For example, if a woman is silent and tense in the face of criticism from her husband, the therapist-Double might say quietly, "I feel so small and scared when you speak to me in that tone, and all I want is to disappear."

The patient has the power to accept ("Yes, that's exactly it") or correct ("No, it's not fear, it's anger") the Double's intervention.

This technique validates the inner experience, provides a model of emotional expression and brings to light hidden material that is vital for the resolution of the conflict.

Family or Couple Sculpture

Sculpting is an action technique that allows spatial and symbolic representation of relationships.

One partner is asked to "sculpt" their vision of the relationship by placing the other (and themselves) in a specific posture and location in the room, without using words, as if they were clay statues.

If one feels that the relationship is distant and cold, one might place one's partner at the opposite end of the room, with his or her back to the other.

If you feel suffocated, you could place her on top of you, covering her eyes. Once the static sculpture is created, you explore how each of you feels in that physical position.

This visual and somatic representation circumvents intellectual defenses and undeniably shows the dynamics of power, closeness and pain that operate in the system, serving as a starting point to then sculpt the "ideal" or desired image.

Summary

The mirror technique returns an objective image of the behavior perceived by others. Confronting discrepancies between self-image and actual behavior allows for congruent adjustment of nonverbal communication.

The doppelganger verbalizes thoughts or emotions that the patient does not know how to express. It acts as an extension of the self, giving voice to the unconscious, validating internal experiences and providing models of expression.

Sculpture spatially and symbolically represents relationships without using words. It undeniably shows dynamics of power and pain, serving as a starting point to build the desired ideal image.