Psychotherapeutic Metaphors: A Guide to Theory and Practice

Psychotherapeutic Metaphors will provide practitioners with a theoretical and practical introduction to the use of metaphors in their day-to-day practice. What exactly is a metaphor? Why are metaphors so effective as instruments of change? How can metaphors assist in the development of rapport between therapist and client and in the establishment of treatment goals? Which clinical situations lend themselves to the use of metaphorical strategies? This book clearly and simply answers these questions and many others, with the help of case examples from the author's own experience as well as from the work of other highly respected authorities. The author addresses the great variety of metaphoric strategies available to practitioners, from major stories to analogies and similes, and including tasks, rituals, objects, artistic productions, cartoon therapy, and more. Readers will learn the basic principles of constructing a metaphor, including how to choose age-, education-, culturally, and vocationally appropriate metaphors, as well as how to assess the preferred sensory channel and communication style of a particular client. This book also describes how relationships themselves can be used as metaphors for other relationships. Since the actual delivery of a metaphor is as important as the metaphor itself, the book covers the technical aspects of successful delivery.