How I am/ How I would like to be

How I am/ How I would like to be: Applied Methods
ETC Level: Cognitive-Affective
MDV Level: Fluid-Simple-Unstructured
Materials
several 5X7 pieces of cardstock or lined paperwriting utensil
Procedures
1. Write about the person you are now and the person you would like to be. 2. Processing questions may include: Compare/ Contrast/Balance: How do the two compare? How are the two different? If the two persons described differ greatly, is there a centerpoint? If so, what would that person look like? Are the two more similar than the client realizes? Put identified problematic characteristics on a scale from 0-10. Where would you want to be on the scale? Movement/ Growth: What would you have to do to move towards becoming the person you would like to be? How would your life be different if you became more like your "ideal" person? Acceptance: Are you ok with being X (shy, anxious, messy, etc.)? What are the positives that result from being X? What purpose does being X serve? What would your best friend (or someone else who therapist knows to a positive force within client's life) say about your X?
Rationale
This intervention creates the opportunity for self-expression and increases self-awareness. The activity may also help identify goals for personal growth and explore them in a more realistic and concrete context. Clients may also move towards self-acceptance through recognizing the positive consequences of a negatively-deemed characteristic. AT's role may be to shed positive light on "negative' characteristics, create a more realistic view, break down steps separating two extremes (marathoner-mentality), and help client move toward balance and contentment.
Adaptations
1. This journaling assignment could be given as homework to completed over the course of a week. Therapist could request that client write/create on the subject everyday for at least 2 minutes. 2. As a follow-up to this intervention, the client could be asked to create a depiction of what their written words would look like in line/form/color or collage. 3. Client could be given different media to depict the subject, i.e. clay, collage, pipe cleaners, etc. Client could also be given a choice in what media to use.