The therapeutic process requires a focus on the emotional experience of clients and involves developing clients’ recognition of their emotional patterns and needs. The exploration of clients’ emotional experiences and establishing “links between self and environment”, plays a pivotal role in the emotional change process. (Greenberg, Rice, & Elliott, 1993, p. 54). Carlson (1996) claims that one of the most challenging aspects of the counselling process is helping clients understand and explore their intangible thoughts and feelings, and express them with tangible words. In these cases metaphors prove to be useful tools for helping clients access emotions that may have been previously unexpressed or unexplored. Fox (1989), noted that metaphors …show more content…
These three methods are: Explicating what is implicit - this is the process of reflective listening and focusing on the words of the metaphor to help the client in exploration of the personal meaning and context. Therapeutically Extending or Modifying the Metaphor – this involves staying with the metaphor and working together to assist the client in modifying their ideas of what the metaphor represents. Creating and delivering Therapeutic Metaphors – this is when a counsellor responds to a client’s metaphor with another relatable metaphor allowing the client to see the problem in a new way. In a study on counsellors’ responses to clients metaphors, Bayne and Thompson (2000) explored the ways counsellors recognized and used to clients metaphors. Using Strong’s model, counsellors responses were noted (see figure) and although findings were seen as positive, with the first two of Strong’s strategies being used frequently, some of the counsellors who participated questioned the value of introducing a new metaphor when the client had just offered one. The authors concluded it would be worthwhile to refine Strong’s
In conclusion, Anderson et al. (2010) discussed the relationship between therapeutic models and the techniques utilized by them. However, the contextual model that they posit in this article is built upon a postmodern philosophy and has numerous flaws. As a result, I reject many of their arguments, at least as they are presented. Despite this, there was some information (albeit modified) from this article that I can incorporate into my own practice as a therapist.
This method is grounded in the strengths perspective, a perspective in which the worker center’s their sessions around the clients’ abilities, gifts, and strengths (Shulman, 2016). Instead of focusing on what is wrong with the client, the worker highlights what is right with the client building on their strengths instead of emphasizing their deficits: the client already has what they need to get better or solve their problem (Corcoran, 2008). The role of the worker in this model is to help the client recognize their potential, recognize what resources they already have, and discuss what is going well for the client and what they have been able to accomplish already (Shulman, 2016). Techniques commonly used in this model, although they are not exclusive to this model, include an emphasis on pre- and between-session change, exception questions, the miracle question, scaling questions, and coping questions (Shulman, 2016). These questions are used for many reasons: for example, the miracle question is used because “sometimes asking clients to envision a brighter future may help them be clearer on what they want or to see a path to problem-solving.” (Corcoran, 2008, p. 434) while coping questions are used to allow the client to see what they are already accomplishing, rather than what they are transgressing (Corcoran, 2008). All
For example, I work in a juvenile prison. Prison is an interesting cultural context to investigate from its various perspectives. Many metaphors may be made about the same system depending on a person's immediate cultural group, or what Eco better terme d as humans' "local cultural organizations" (Cunningham, "MOM" handout). The sign of school and its object, the prison school program, has at least three distinguishable interpretants in the facility in which I work. These interpretants can be viewed as metaphors and are different depending on whose point of view and "local cultural organization" one is investigating.
... A metaphor, used as a communication skill, is best described in a political way. Think of Reagan’s Voodoo economics, or Bill Clinton building a bridge to the 21st century. Politicians can easily scam an ignorant voter, should one not understand a metaphor. For example: Clinton refers to building a bridge, but does not tell us with which tools he intends to build it with. This particular concept is valid alone for the above reason. Whether you are talking to a teacher or watching television, metaphors need to understand.
In the Gift by Li-Young Lee metaphor expresses the theme that with the right amount of comfort and support the scary, deadly manifestations do not seem so bad anymore. An example of this is “And I recall his hands two measures of tenderness he laid against my face, the flames of discipline he raised over my head” (11.9-13). This compares the father’s hands to the epitome of tenderness and the fierceness of discipline. The father’s hands compare two different ideas based on what he chooses to use them for. This shoes how the father’s hands make the painful manifestations seem okay because of the care that they give. More examples of metaphors are “I can’t remember the tale but hear his voice still, a well of dark water a prayer” (11.6-8).
It is important to understand that in real life experience can connect to so many things. A book is not just a book, a book is a pathway that allows the mind to make connections. A couple chapters can be describing one’s childhood as a whole book can make a person reminisce about their young adulthood. Authors are not using metaphors accidentally but on purpose. Some authors write books, but some may think they are writing to them. They are retelling somebody’s story that happen in their life. These great metaphors is a key that opens up a door to millions of
I pay particular attention to enactments, which expose intra-psychic dynamics between the therapist and client, as opportunities for relational remodeling. Combining these IST and attachment, a client can reintegrate affective responses and relational needs through mutual recognition in the therapeutic relationship. Furthermore, both approaches delve into the subjective and embodied processes of both client and therapist, which allows me to integrate interventions like mindfulness, deep breathing, DBT skills, and other behavioral coping skills that work in conjunction with the relational processes to empower clients to stabilize, regulate, and develop new ways to relate interpersonally. The use of these interventions are particularly helpful when working with clients with severe and chronic mental illnesses as it creates a safe, relational holding space for clients to develop necessary coping skills, especially when the therapy is
The counselor accomplishes the above by expressing empathy, developing discrepancies, going along with resistance and supporting self-efficacy. Moreover, the counselor guides the client toward a solution that will lead to permanent posi...
...ning a therapeutic relationship. Paraphrasing includes repeating the content that has been expressed in a different way, this method can provide the client of feeling important and recognized. Reflection of feelings/content involves identifying the feelings and/or content in what has been said (highlighting the key aspects of the story), again this method encourages for the patients to be validated and heard.
Although metaphors seem to be simple and easily understood, they possess the ability to give extra details about a writers beliefs and opinions. By dissecting language, the simplicity of a metaphor can lead to further intellect in an author and show something at a deeper, more precise level. Analyzing connotations, structure, and relationship leads to the discovery of ideologies and understanding. Spiritual truth is often communicated through the use of common, familiar objects. By the use of a simple rhetorical device, Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor effectively communicate their writing style through metaphors, which illustrates their Puritan ideology.
...p their own solutions to problems. Clients may need some guidance, education, or direction depending on their abilities and how the therapy is going. It is then that I want to be able to help them feel more empowered and recognize that they can make changes with effort on their part.
Furthermore, my goal is to let client fix their problems on their own through insight and guidance from the therapist. I envision a successful therapeutic process being when a client follows their goals and achieves positive outcomes in their lives. I seek to gain a therapeutic process with my clients by building rapport, trust, and helping them gain insight. When my clients are stuck and need motivation, I plan to remind them about their goals and the positive things that will come with change. If family is important to a client, informing the client about their family and their happiness may help motivate them to continue to
The metaphors are the words make implicit or hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated but share some common characteristics. The authors always use metaphors to collect two things that having the similar parts. Metaphors can help the audience to picture a massive battle on a small stage. The audience can feel personally on the scene if the authors wrote the metaphors in the right place. In our real life, people always use metaphors to explain new things to the people do not know them.
Reflecting on my work as a therapist, I recognize the importance of the therapeutic relationship. For instance, in EFT the therapist, “the therapeutic relationship, characterized by presence, empathy, acceptance, and congruence, helps clients to feel safe enough to face dreaded feelings and painful memories (Greenberg, 2014).
Philosophers tend to think literal speech is the default; however, common speech is littered with metaphors and other figurative elements. Within metaphors, the two things often differ categorically, yet the sentence is not only intelligible it may even be illuminating and express an important truth. But how do we understand metaphorical meaning as readily as we do?