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Doing relational work with individuals can help fill gaps in understanding relationship dynamics.

Role-play in therapy enhances clients' relational skills through embodied practice.

Chairwork may uncover relational dynamics clients might overlook.

What does it mean to do relational work with individual clients? It might sound contradictory, but it’s actually one of my very favorite ways to work—and it has the potential to resolve some serious issues that therapists often face.

Many of our clients come to us for help with issues they’re experiencing in their relationships, whether with their spouses, their family members, their friends, or their colleagues. As therapists, we can ask questions about dynamics, offer support, and reflect back what we see, but we’re only getting part of the picture. Our understanding is limited by our client’s willingness to share and their level of insight. That, in turn, limits how much we can help.

This knowledge gap can lead to all kinds of issues. For instance, based on our client’s reporting, we may end up seeing the client’s partner as a villain, while if we were to........

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