Abstract:

Introduction: This paper consists of a case study of a spatially-based therapeutic approach, Clean Space, which facilitates a client through a 'stuck' state. The study situates 'clean' approaches within the context of mental space and metaphor research, outlines the method, and provides a full transcript of a session, explanatory commentary and client feedback.

Objectives: This case study aims at showing how the Clean Space approach can successfully facilitate a client's endeavor to create the conditions for the emergence of a novel resolution to their problematic state without any content-related interpretation and only with process interventions coming from the therapist.

Methods: The Clean Space approach.

Results: The session described in this study demonstrates how the client uses physical space and multiple perspectives to work through a long-standing problematic perception which they defined as 'stuck'. The evidence for change is reported by the client at the end of the session and by the feedback she provided one and four months later.

Conclusions: Clean Space enables the client to use the interplay of physical and mental space, to externalize her thoughts, feelings, metaphors and symbolic perceptions thereby engaging her creativity in an emergent change process. It also shows how the therapist keeps his presence to a minimum, and his language 'clean', i.e. free of his own assumptions, interpretations and metaphors.