ABSTRACT
Prepare a number of chairs that should not be too heavy so that the key client is able to pile them up one by one. The chairs should not be too light or else the dramatic effects would diminish when they fall. Then follow these steps:
Step 1
Help the client to recall his or her gambling experiences. If the client says he or she won once in gambling, ask him or her to put a chair in the middle of the room, signifying that he or she has won for the first time. Similarly, the therapist should ask the client to place the second chair on top of the first chair, representing winning for the second time. Then the third chair, indicating another winning. When four or five chairs are piled up, the foundation becomes unstable and the client should be cautious about every other move. Normally, the group atmosphere becomes serious and group members are silent. When the number of chairs on the pile reaches seven or eight, it is highly likely that the whole pile will fall. Ask the client to continue to put another chair on the pile.
