Counselling Techniques: The Letter and the Empty Chair

Synopsis

A demonstration of two counselling techniques to use for helping clients say goodbye to, or resolve unfinished business with, someone who has died. A young woman whose mother is dead expresses her feelings of bitterness and resentment at the way her mother treated her, first by writing a letter, and then by addressing an empty chair as if her mother were present. Subsequently the counsellor accepts the chair in the role of the mother. When the unsaid words have been voiced from both sides, the daughter is at last able to say goodbye.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 32 min.

Year of production

1987

Availability

Sale

Notes

Reviewed by Nicholas Tyndall in BEREAVEMENT CARE, Vol 6, No 3 (Winter 1986) p34.

Documentation

Reference: ‘Basic Counselling Skills’ by Lyn Franchino published by CRUSE - the National Organisation for the Widowed and their Children, 1986.

Subjects

Psychology; Sociology

Keywords

bereavement; counselling

Credits

Producer

Lyn Franchino

Production Company

Name

Counselling Services

Distributor

Name

Concord Media

Email

sales@concordmedia.org.uk

Web

http://www.concordmedia.org.uk/ External site opens in new window

Phone

01473 726 012

Address

Rosehill Centre
22 Hines Road
Ipswich
IP3 9BG

Notes

A long-established, not-for-profit organisation with a large collection DVDs, specialising in the sectors of general and mental health, child care, race relations, war and peace, addictions, the third world, ecology, civil rights, personal relationships, educational issues, and social work training. Concord also handles titles made for the Graves Medical Audio-visual Library. Sale on DVD. Formerly known as Concord Video and Film Council. In 2014 Concord began to offer selected films as Video on Demand, via Vimeo.