Sport climbing as an intermediary object in the creation of therapeutic bonds

Abstract

This paper presents findings from a postgraduate thesis conducted at the Paraná Association of Psychodrama, exploring the potential use of sport climbing as an intermediary tool to enhance therapeutic connections. In clinical psychology, there is often a focus on the therapy setting rather than its function. Role theory in psychodrama elucidates how individuals can adopt the role of therapist by engaging with the client’s counter-role. Through an action research intervention involving two volunteers, this study discovered that metaphors drawn from the sport climbing experience effectively facilitated the clients’ understanding of role dynamics and the importance of the therapeutic relationship. These findings not only broadened therapeutic approaches, but also reshaped cultural expectations surrounding therapeutic interactions from the outset.