Floor Checks are Dr. Dayton’s core sociometric process. Created by her to fit easily into treatment, outpatient programs, and groups, floor checks take the guesswork out of incorporating experiential work into treatment. They incorporate evidence-based research that turns dry lecture material into spontaneous and dynamic case studies that both teach and heal.

Floor Checks can be used virtually by putting them on a share board and using prompts to inspire sharing, using hand signals to indicate how much or how little participants are feeling of each word or both.

Floor Checks are research-based experiential processes that are psycho-educational and help clients to move organically from states of dysregulation to co-regulation and self-regulation.

The Empty Chair

The empty chair technique is a powerful and dynamic therapeutic tool often used in Gestalt therapy, psychodrama, and other experiential modalities. It involves placing an empty chair in the room and inviting the client to imagine that someone significant—such as a family member, partner, or even a part of themselves—is sitting in it. The client then speaks directly to this imagined presence, expressing thoughts, feelings, or unresolved issues. This approach can help clients externalize and process emotions, gain clarity about relational dynamics, and access deeper self-awareness. By shifting between chairs or embodying the imagined perspective, clients can engage in a dialogue that promotes emotional release, perspective-taking, and closure. This method is particularly effective for addressing relational trauma, unspoken conflicts, or inner struggles, as it creates a safe space for exploration and healing.