ABSTRACT
The three most important trial-based cognitive therapy (TBCT) techniques, consensual role-play (CRP), trial-based thought record (TBTR or Trial I), and trial-based metacognitive awareness (TBMA or Trial II) are distinctive in that they allow the patient to take distance and separate each cognitive structure by means of individual inner characters. The empty chair approach, also known as chairwork or two-chair dialogues, came from Gestalt therapy and was developed by Frederick "Fritz" Perls. TBCT makes extensive use of the empty chair approach in order to do concomitant work on experiential and cognitive restructuring. Peter Trower's reflections on the TBTR sheds further light on the understanding of this technique, informing that it combines the best of cognitive processing and emotional processing. It uses the best therapy style of guided discovery, Socratic dialogue to help the patient discover insights for themselves and also enables growth and change in the zone of proximal development.
