Stroke-O-Graph: The Psychological Diet Chart

Abstract

This paper discusses client awareness of the validity of psychological hungers as well as ways to identify and satisfy these needs. By using the Stroke-O-Graph to chart a daily psychological diet, clients can recognize neglected areas and develop an action plan for asserting themselves to get these needs met. The Stroke-O-Graph combines Berne's identification of the three basic psychological hungers (1961) and Steiner's emphasis on the importance of strokes (1971) to create a therapeutic tool that fills several roles: It offers information and involvement for the client, valuable feedback for the therapist and client on changes the client is making, and a “psyche-diet” checking device the client can use as he or she accepts responsibility for being his or her own therapist.