The social atom is a therapeutic tool used to explore and understand relationships and emotional connections within a system, such as a family or any social network.

The social atom is a visual or physical representation of any network of relationships. It allows both the therapist and the client to map out the relational dynamics in a concrete way. By doing so, clients can see their connections, disconnections, overlaps and tensions more clearly, making the abstract concepts of relationships and emotions visible and tangible.

This technique, which Moreno (the founder of psychodrama) developed, enables clients to externalize their internal world into a more three-dimensional form. It provides a powerful way for clients to observe and interact with their relational network, often using a stand-in to represent themselves. This external perspective can help them gain insights and shift perspectives.

Social Atom Repair

For virtual groups, we will learn how to do the social atom on paper and share it which in and of itself can be an evocative and clarifying experience. Clients may then choose to do an empty chair talking to themselves or anyone from their social atom. They can do a second, reparative atom of their network the way they wish it had been or might like it to be in the future representing changes in closeness or distance or boundaries that they might prefer. Each of these atoms can be part of “social atom repair”.

This process can be deeply therapeutic, offering clients a chance to re-experience their relational world in a controlled, safe environment. It can bring up powerful emotions and realizations, but it also provides the opportunity to explore alternative outcomes and foster healing from past relational trauma. For Adult Children of Relational Trauma, like those with Complex PTSD, this method can be particularly impactful, as it allows them to revisit and reconstruct the emotional landscapes of their past in a way that can promote healing and change.