Which technique allows a therapist to tell a related story to help clients reflect on their roles?

Displacement stories are a therapeutic technique that involves the therapist sharing a narrative or story that mirrors the client’s situation but is set in a different context. This method allows clients to step back from their own experiences and reflect on their roles and feelings in a more abstract way. By relating to the characters or situations in the story, clients can gain insights into their own circumstances without the immediate emotional intensity that might accompany direct discussions about their personal lives.

This technique is particularly effective because it creates a safe psychological distance while still engaging clients in meaningful self-reflection. The relatability of a story can facilitate discussions about themes like conflict, relationships, and personal growth in a manner that encourages clients to explore their own thoughts and feelings without feeling defensive.

While process questions, coaching, and relationship experiments are valuable therapeutic tools, they do not specifically focus on storytelling as a means to foster reflection. Process questions typically guide clients to delve deeper into their thoughts or feelings. Coaching involves guiding clients toward achieving their goals through skill-building and feedback. Relationship experiments often require clients to engage in real-life interactions to uncover patterns and dynamics within their relationships. In contrast, displacement stories uniquely harness the narrative form to evoke reflection and insight in a way that is distinct from these other methods.