Hardeng, of Norway, at International Social Work Conference

 

Stein Hardeng - Sculpting

Stein Hardeng, Associate Professor of Social Work at Diaconia College, Oslo, and Julie Thorsheim, MSW, of KST Associates in Minnesota, were co-presenters at Augsburg College, Minneapolis, at International Social Work Conference: Global Context: Local Solutions, June 14, 2012.

David Olson congratulates David Kvebaek

When author and prominent family social science researcher and teacher, David H. Olson, learned of the honor the Norwegian government had bestowed upon Kvebaek, the founder of the Kvebaek Family Sculpture Test, Olson sent a comment to this website:
“Dear David:
Congratulations on the Gold Medal from Norway. That is a great honor–-which you deserve. You were a leader of family systems assessment, and it is great to see that Julie Thorsheim is continuing to offer it in the U.S.
Karen and I are semi-retired from PREPARE-ENRICH and I retired from the University of Minnesota in 2000 . . . . .Wishing you the very best! David Olson” (See comment submitted March 2nd, 2011.)

David Kvebæk awarded King’s Gold Medal

On November 24, 2010, David Kvebæk was awarded the King’s Gold Medal for outstanding lifetime contributions, especially to the field of family therapy. In advance of this ceremony in Oslo, Kvebæk invited Julie Thorsheim to come to Oslo to represent the Kvebaek Sculpture Tool (KST) in the United States.

To read the full text of the presentation, click on this link: Gold Medal translation .

Sculpting “invaluable tool in assessment and family therapy”

“I am very impressed by the practical application of sculpting afforded through the use of the Kvebaek family sculpting tools. You offered me, in the short time we were able to talk, a useful and informative presentation regarding the clinical and theoretical foundations of this therapeutic technique. I think it would be an invaluable tool for use in assessment and family therapy. It practicalizes family sculpting for clinicians –-and would be easily accessible for newer clinicians.”

-L.P., social work professor and clinical supervisor, Colorado

Family Sculpting Workshop-International Focus

June 16, 2009 a workshop focused on Family Sculpting took place at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota. Presenters were: Dr. Anne Hollingworth, psychologist in private practice in Sydney, Australia; Thomas Thorsheim, Ph.D. psychologist in private practice in Greenville, South Carolina; Jean Giebenhain, Ph.D., full professor, University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, and Julie Thorsheim, MSW, of KST Associates. Moderator was Mary Carlson, Chair, Dept. of Social Work and Family Studies at St. Olaf College. This Continuing Education event was co-sponsored by NASW, Minnesota Chapter, and the St. Olaf College Department of Social Work and Family Studies, and was funded in part by the David and Karen Olson Marriage and Family Endowment at St. Olaf College.

Hollingworth showed how she uses the Kvebaek Sculpture Tool to incorporate “ the child’s voice” in her reports to Family Court when retained to assess parenting capacity and children’s family attachments for the purpose of making placement decisions about at-risk children. Julie Thorsheim provided historical and theoretical framework of the Kvebæk Family Sculpture and showed participants how to begin incorporating this technique into their practice in a variety of settings. Giebenhain provided insight into the way she uses the KST in research and clinical practice with multi-cultural adoptive families. Thomas Thorsheim provided examples of how he uses this figure placement tool in assessment and therapy with both individuals and families.

This skills-building workshop incorporated demonstration, case examples, panel presentation and small group activities to equip participants to use representational family sculpting in their own work. Participants’ evaluations of this full-day experiential workshop were enthusiastic and strong. Look for glimpses of presenters and participants on pages of this website.

Rapid insight into family dynamics

“I’m a psychologist in private practice, providing a broad range of
psychological testing and psychotherapy services. I began using the KST in
clinical work about two years ago. It has been tremendously helpful in
both assessment and therapy, giving me and my clients rapid insight into
complex family dynamics. Further, it allows clients to share information
non-verbally at times when putting words to their family experiences may
initially feel painful or overwhelming. In family therapy , it creates a
platform for sharing individual perspectives and helps create dialogue
between family members.”
– Dr. T, Licensed Psychologist in South Carolina

KST in South Africa

“KST has been successfully used in South Africa in relation to chronic illness. Families even asked for an extra sculpture that would represent the sickness.” The writer continued, “I would like to make use of the KST in order to understand the child’s social environment, and sources of support or neglect. I would also like to understand the social environment of the household as well as to learn about familial role change in the course of chronic illness.”

– D.B., a psychologist in South Africa

Discovery and renewal

Fresh discoveries have a way of renewing our energy. That is what happened about 15 years ago. When a colleague in Norway showed me the Kvebæk Family Sculpture Tool and demonstrated how he uses it, I experienced that excitement of discovery. After conducting a review of the literature and confirming a solid research base for this assessment instrument, I began incorporating family sculpture with my own clients. Using the Kvebæk Tool provides a whole new dimension to assessment and therapeutic intervention!

“Profoundly helpful!”

“I just used the KST with a client and it was profoundly helpful!”  This psychologist added that he only wished he’d had the tool available when he first started working with the young man, who is dealing with emancipation issues.

Family Sculpture seminar held in Oslo

A Family Sculpture Seminar was held in Oslo, Norway, October 5, 2007. Participants — clinicians, consultant, agency administrator, social work supervisor and university professor — shared experiences and research with the Kvebæk Family Sculpture Tool. This core group is beginning plans for an International Conference on Family Sculpture in 2009. Stay tuned!