Chairwork Roles
One position anchors the client role and one position represents the absent person, image, or self-aspect. Role reversal is supported but not required.
Empty Chair Technique
Empty Chair Technique is a Gestalt chairwork tool for practitioners helping clients encounter an absent person, image, or self-aspect through direct address to an empty chair and possible role reversal. It helps set up the chair positions, record live affect and role language, and review what became unfinished or newly possible.
Explore a sample empty-chair dialogue
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Tool guide
Learn more about this tool
Use this background section to understand when the tool fits, how practitioners use it, and what to consider before sharing it with clients.
Virtual Use
The represented chair positions may be shown onscreen for virtual work without changing the core mechanic.
Limits
The tool is not a generic role-play builder. It remains focused on empty-chair encounter for unfinished relational or intrapsychic material.
Is role reversal required?
No. Role reversal is supported but not forced; direct-address-only work can be recorded.
Does the tool require the client to type during chairwork?
No. The client-facing display can show positions and current role, while practitioner capture can happen during or after the exercise.
Can the represented focus change during the exercise?
Yes. The practitioner can update the focus or create a separate instance when a different figure or aspect needs to remain clear.
Does the result claim the issue is resolved?
No. The result records expression, observations, and awareness without assigning a resolution label.