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Cited by 233Psychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsCounseling, Therapy, and Family DynamicsCounseling Practices and Supervision

Resolving "unfinished business": Efficacy of experiential therapy using empty-chair dialogue.

Paivio, Sandra C., Greenberg, Leslie S.·1995·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
DOI 10.1037/0022-006x.63.3.419
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Abstract

In this study, 34 clients with unresolved feelings related to a significant other were randomly assigned to either experiential therapy using a Gestalt empty-chair dialogue intervention or an attention-placebo condition. The latter was a psychoeducational group offering information about "unfinished business." Treatment outcomes were evaluated before and after the treatment period in each condition and at 4 months and 1 year after the experiential therapy. Outcome instruments targeted general symptomotology, interpersonal distress, target complaints, unfinished business resolution, and perceptions of self and other in the unfinished business relationship. Results indicated that experiential therapy achieved clinically meaningful gains for most clients and significantly greater improvement than the psychoeducational group on all outcome measures. Treatment gains for the experiential therapy group were maintained at follow-up.

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  • In the empty chair technique, clients typically argue with an imaginary significant other sitting across from them in an empty chair, and may eventually sit in that chair and experience and argue about the problem from the perspective of the significant other.

    “In this method clients in a therapy session typically argue with an imaginary significant other sitting across from them in an empty chair. This may also involve clients eventually sitting in that chair and then experiencing and arguing about the problem from the perspective of the significant other.”

    From Conversations between self and self as Sigmund Freud—A virtual body ownership paradigm for self counselling (2015) · cites this paper as [38]

  • A practical application of perspective taking is the 'empty chair technique' of Gestalt Therapy.

    “A practical application of perspective taking is the ‘empty chair technique’ of Gestalt Therapy3738.”

    From Conversations between self and self as Sigmund Freud—A virtual body ownership paradigm for self counselling (2015) · cites this paper as [38]

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Authors
Paivio, S. C., & Greenberg, L. S.
Affiliations
University of Saskatchewan (CA)
ORCID
Greenberg, Leslie S.
Venue
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
1995
Volume
63
Issue
3
Pages
419-425
ISSN
  • 0022-006X (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-2117
DOI
10.1037/0022-006x.63.3.419
OpenAlex
W4229837551
Cited by
233
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 5
FWCI
6.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Counseling Practices and Supervision
Keywords
experiential therapy, unfinished business, unresolved conflicts, treatment efficacy
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Emotions, Female, Gestalt Therapy, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Middle Aged, Personality Assessment, Problem-Based Learning

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