REHEARSAL
In everyday life we often rehearse for roles we think we are expected to play, and we worry that we may not say the “right” thing and perform “properly.” Internal rehearsing consumes much energy and frequently inhibits spontaneity. By participating in a rehearsal, members say out loud what they are thinking silently. This technique can be especially useful when it is obvious that members are doing a lot of blocking and censoring and when what they say seems carefully measured out for a certain effect. Again, suggesting a rehearsal technique must be timed properly, and it must emerge from the situation in which a member is struggling in some way. Rehearsals are not designed to stir up emotions but to bring into sharper awareness a process that is typically done without awareness. For example, during the initial stages of one of my groups, Sherry was quite silent and appeared to be developing an observer’s stance. When I asked her if she was indeed saying everything she wanted to say, she shook her head in denial. So I asked her to express aloud some of the random thoughts she had as she was sitting there in silence.