MA United States International University Rock Therapy is a technique that is used with families, couples, and individuals to demonstrate the significant role that emotions play in their lives. The rock technique can help clients become aware of their feelings, own them, and identify the advantages and disadvantages of them by repeatedly dealing with their feelings in relation to the rocks they choose to represent them. Clients acquire an understanding of the function of their emotions, and gain the ability to take charge of their feelings. Processing unresolved emotions and feelings empowers the couple, family, or child to take control of their relationships, and the behaviors associated with them.
Clients learn that feelings and emotions can be processed, accepted, and expressed.
They are encouraged to find something symbolic in the shape, texture, or color of the rocks that represent to them the emotions or feelings, and bring them to the next session. When they come in for the next session, have them review with you each of their rocks and what they represent. Ask them about the experience of gathering the rocks and any insight or awareness that was gained. Assign clients to make decisions each morning about which rocks to carry with them. There are a multitude of possible applications of this technique.