Effects of two-chair dialogue and focusing on conflict resolution

Examined the effect of the Gestalt 2-chair method on conflict resolution by comparing it, in an analog study, with the focusing technique followed by emphatic reflection. Ss were 42 graduate students in counseling psychology. Results show that (a) the 2-chair dialog applied at a split produced significantly more depth of experiencing (Experiencing Scale) than did focusing plus emphatic reflection, and (b) both treatments produced significantly greater reported shifts in awareness and progress than the no-treatment controls.