- Life Facts -

When discussing intake interviews and psychotherapy with my students, I point out that
clients engage in a process of exploring their life story, usually at first by describing the
most important "facts" about themselves.
For this exercise, I ask students to write down four important facts about themselves and
their lives - things that have happened to them, information about their family, facts about
their personality or their history, etc. participation, as with all my exercises, is
voluntary!. I also ask them to include on that list one item that is a LIE.
"#xtra features for the exercise might involve asking students to add to the list$ %!
something your parents said about how you were as a baby to explore early, perhaps
temperment-determined aspects of self!, and&or' (! something important about one of
your parent)s or grandparent)s life to explore identification issues and cross-generational
issues in the development of self-identity!.
I then collect the papers and use the circulating papers techni*ue so everyone gets a
chance to give and receive feedback from several other students. I also instruct students,
when reading other people)s lists, to put a star next to the item in the list that they think is
a lie.
+ere are some issues we discuss about the exercise$
Is there a pattern to the list of life facts,
What does the list say about oneself,
-ould people determine which item was the lie,
Is the lie meaningful and revealing of one)s personality,
Is there anything important .I//I01 from the list,