Which technique involves positioning family members or objects to symbolize relationships and roles within the family, exploring different perspectives?

• A. Family Sculpting
• B. Genogram
• C. Ecomap
• D. Narrative Therapy

Answer: (A)

The technique being tested is family sculpting. In this approach, the therapist invites family members to stand or sit in positions that symbolize their relationships, roles, and boundaries, sometimes using objects to represent absent members. The physical arrangement becomes a visual and experiential representation of the family system, making abstract dynamics concrete. By observing the sculpture, clients can see who is close or distant, who influences whom, and where alignment or tension lies—things that are often hard to articulate in talk alone. This setup also invites exploring different perspectives: a member can be moved to reflect how it might feel to be in another person’s position, helping to foster empathy and a deeper understanding of relational patterns. Over the course of a session, discussions can shift toward alternative stories or solutions, such as redefining boundaries, recalibrating loyalties, or renegotiating roles.

Genogram maps family relationships and medical history across generations on a diagram, focusing on structural patterns rather than real-time relational dynamics. An ecomap charts connections to external systems like schools, work, and community resources, emphasizing social supports and stressors outside the family. Narrative therapy centers on constructing and revising stories about the problems and the family, emphasizing externalization and re-authoring rather than a spatial representation of relationships.