title: Sculpting present and future: a systemic intervention model applied to psychosomatic families.
abstract: We present a therapeutic intervention model for use with psychosomatic families. This method, the result of our extensive research on various psychosomatic disorders, uses family sculptures of the "present" and "future": each family member is requested to represent the family as it now "is," and how it "will be" in the future. We discuss the theoretical reasons for our choice of this method: (a) the opportunity to use a therapeutic language that is similar to the nonverbal language of the psychosomatic symptom, and (b) the usefulness of reinserting temporal dimensions into family systems that seem to have lost their evolutionary potential and to be in a sort of "time lock." Two clinical cases are discussed (a child with chronic asthma and an anorexic adolescent); the use of sculptures in both cases revealed the underlying problems and made positive therapeutic interventions possible. Finally, we point out how the use of sculpture as a therapeutic technique enables therapists to deal with multiple systemic levels.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Onnis
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Di Gennaro
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Cespa
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Agostini
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Chouhy
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Dentale
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Quinzi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011340:Problem Solving; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012803:Sick Role