Many Selves - An Art Intervention

This is an original intervention I presented at the 2015 International Association for Play Therapy conference in Atlanta, GA.  I was inspired by Internal Family Systems, although, the concept of the self exists in many theories and this exercise can be used well with many theories.

• This intervention explores what roles a client sees themselves as occupying and how these roles conflict or complement one another.
• It also explores how they manifest in or are influenced by the wider world of the client.
• While Internal Family Systems restricts roles to two types, exiles and protectors, this intervention widens the scope to utilize the client's understanding and definition of themselves.

As the client comes to know the real self, they learn how to manage these other internal types and self-competency and mindfulness increase. This exercise, used to uncover the roles a client identifies with, is appropriate for children and adults and is especially helpful with multicultural clients.

Supplies:

• Paper Doll Bodies or Gingerbread Boy/Girl Cookie Cutters to trace
• Construction Paper  
• Glue 
• Writing implements (crayons, markers,  pens)

Activity (Setup, Implementation):

1. Discuss with the client the roles they have in life, the ways they behave differently in different situations/places.
2. Ask the client to pick 3-5 prominent roles for themselves.
3. Have them decorate the doll bodies for each role and paste them on construction paper. 
4. Have them give each doll a name. 
5. Have them write a statement for each doll on the paper.

Processing:

• Explore relationships between the different dolls.
• Explore feelings of each doll. 
• Have the client speak for/as each doll. 
• Explore composition and placement of dolls.