title: Do we really understand? An experiential exercise for training family therapists.
abstract: This paper presents an experiential exercise for training beginning marriage and family therapists, as well as several adaptations of the format. The basic exercise consists of role playing a therapy session in which the people playing the clients speak a language that is not understood by the therapist-in-training. Although the therapist cannot understand the clients, the clients can understand the therapist. This exercise assists students to become more cognizant of the need to be cautious and curious in the cocreation of meaning in therapy. In addition, this exercise builds confidence and clinical skills, such as learning about nonverbal communication while observing process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, 3102 Sangren Hall, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA. khelmeke@juno.com
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Helmeke
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Prouty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D008388:Marital Therapy / Q000193:education*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States