Kelly's fixed role technique: what it is and how it is used in therapy

Many times, when we have a problem or are suffering for some reason, looking at things from another perspective can help us find a solution. This is what George Kelly thought when he created the fixed role technique., framed within the theory of personal constructs and based on a constructivist approach to reality.

Constructivism states that reality is not something unique and immovable, but that it is being built; there are as many realities as there are people in the world. Each person will create their own reality and give it their own personal meaning. The nuances are endless.

In the following lines we will see the foundations of the constructivist psychology that G. Kelly.

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Kelly and the beginning of constructivism

George Kelly was an American psychologist who proposed the theory of personal constructs. According to this theory, people build the world based on personal constructs, that is, in ways of giving meaning to experiences.

Thus, each person attributes a certain meaning to the experience, the result of said constructions.

In order to learn more about the world that surrounds us and anticipate the consequences of what happens around us, we must gradually adjust and modify our system of constructs. This It will change with time and the experiences we acquire.

Origin of the fixed role technique

The fixed role technique, also called fixed role therapy, was proposed by Kelly in 1955, although he started using it earlier, in the 1930s.

This technique is considered the most representative of the theory of personal constructs, and it is a useful tool to achieve therapeutic change.

Through this technique, the therapist constructs fictional personality roles specific to the patient, and this must represent these roles for approximately 2 weeks. Through this implementation of new roles, the patient experiences new constructs that will help him achieve the change.

It is important that the technique is acceptable to the patient so that therapist and patient can work together.

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Phases of this therapeutic process

Let's see in more detail the phases that make up the technique.

First, self-characterization (which is also an evaluation technique proposed by Kelly, in 1955) is developed. In this phase the therapist asks the patient to write a description of himself (usually a couple of pages in third person); it's what Kelly calls "character sketch."

The therapist then builds another description from this, called "fixed role search." The patient must represent the new role or character for a certain period of time (usually 2 weeks).

So the patient You will be faced with role-playing to address the challenges, challenges, and problems of your lifebut from a different perspective. The fictitious personality (new role) will have a different name so that the patient can represent it without losing its identity or compromising it.

The technique also includes homework, which in this case will involve performing the fixed role in work or academic situations (outside of therapy).

In the final stage of the fixed role technique, patient and therapist make an assessment of the results, and the patient is the one who decides whether or not he wants to maintain some of the characteristics represented.

In addition, in this last phase, a farewell letter is usually written to the character of the fixed role. This strategy makes it possible to prepare for the closure of the therapeutic intervention.

Technique characteristics

Within the therapy sessions, the patient must put the new role into practice (in addition to homework).

On the other hand, one way that the therapist can model the new role in the patient and that the latter can see a concrete situation from the perspective of another is to use role reversal, with which the roles of therapist and patient are reversed. Thus, the patient represents the role of the therapist and vice versa; this allows the patient to explore reality from another point of view. Attitudes of exploration and experimentation will facilitate change.

The objective of the fixed role technique is for the patient to rehearse in practice what it would be like to live without the problem you have (also called dilemma), with the security and peace of mind that you will not be asked to delete it. That way, if you feel the change too threatening, you can go back to your normal way of operating.

Finally, it is intended that the patient can reorganize his previous construct system, modify his personal constructs and create new ones, this time more functional.

Bibliographic references:

• Cloninger, S. (2002). Personality theories. Mexico: Pearson Education
• Senra, J., Feixas, G. and Fernandes, E. (2005). Manual of intervention in implicative dilemmas. Journal of Psychotherapy, 16(63/64), 179-201.