The Relationship as Protagonist

[Dario Silva]

Walter,I'm not sure about literature on this other than what Anne Hale has given you but Mort Satten, who recently passed, used this technique extensively in training. He developed the technique while working within a time frame doing hospital groups. He did a lot of role reversals with the self as well as with the other in the dyad. The group members can be invited to chime in and be double for either person in the dyad as well or a person from the group can be chosen to take the place of one of the protags to provide a concrete person when a protag role reverses with the other protag. You can get a good example of this technique at the end of Dorothy Satten's book, Better Real than perfect. I have adopted this technique in marriage counseling. In this situation, the role reversal with self to get at a deeper level is very powerful. In this position, I have the person speak their own truth (as Dorothy Satten says, "from deep down inside where your really tell yourself the truth"), then I ask them to take back their own position and speak from what they have said to their partner. I've had couples later tell me that at home they have asked their spouse to get behind the chair and speak their real truth, What do they really want to say. This as been a great way in teaching members of a couple to establish their own voice within a relationship. There is lots more one can do with this technique, be creative and share with the rest of us what you have come up with.
hope this helps
Dario 
> Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 09:17:41 +1200
> Subject: The Relationship as Protagonist
> From: walter at psybernet.co.nz
> To: list at grouptalkweb.org
> 
> Dear Grouptalk members
> 
> I am developing my thinking & practice of working with the
> relationship between two people in a group, on the stage. I think of
> the "relationship as the protagonist" in such a situation.
> 
> 
> //
> In order to talk cogently about treatment of interpersonal relations
> there must be two patients present, and a third, the therapist, who
> may be able then more genuinely to remain uninvolved, a participant
> observer and an interpreter to both parties…Then there are two
> patients, not one, they can give therapy to each other, each in accord
> with his ability and his needs.
> (Moreno, Psychodrama Vol 3 :55-56)
> //
> 
> Moreno Psychodrama Vol 1. Section on Co-Unconscious  States and the
> "Inter-psyche". in the introduction has more on this.
> 
> I have worked with a relationship in a group, with two people in a dialogue.
> 
> Choosing the protagonist rel was a smooth process. Group members
> invited another to participate in an exploration of an aspect of their
> relationship if the invitation was accepted they were then a possible
> candidate for  a "protagonist relationship".
> 
> Producing the drama of the relationship is more complex....
> 
> Ideas about this?  Experiences?
> 
> Is there literature?
> 
> 
> Walter
> 
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