Towards a cognitive formulation of metaphor use in psychotherapy

Metaphor as an Instrument for Orchestrating Change in Counselor Training and the Counseling Process

“…According to the interactive view, the metaphor may help create the new knowledge because it is understood (Muran & DiGiuseppe, 1990). Counselors often can transform the metaphor in collaboration with the client by exploring the image and the sensations associated with it, identifying the feelings that are evoked, and helping the client change the image into a new one that is preferred and results in new behavior or affect.…”

Studying the Use of Figurative Language in Psychotherapy: The Search for Researchable Questions

“…The potential benefits of metaphors' in facilitating the effectiveness of psychotherapy have been amply documented and illustrated in numerous clinical case examples (e.g., Adams & Chadboume, 1982;Bauer & Modarressi, 1977;Brink, 1982;Mosher, 1979) and conceptual or theoretical articles (e.g., Aleksandrowicz, 1962;Arlow, 1979;Evans, 1988;Gore, 1977;Lenrow, 1966;Muran & DiGiuseppe, 1990) and usually form the backdrop for the few empirical studies that do exist in the literature (Angus & Rennie, 1988Hill & Regan, 1991;Martin, Cummings, & Hallberg, 1992;McMullen, 1985McMullen, , 1989McMullen & Conway, 1994;Pollio & Barlow, 1975). However, a consideration of the empirical literature reveals that the relation between metaphor use and therapeutic change has not been addressed directly.…”

Training in RET: Disputational strategies

“…A coach, however, cannot compete for the athlete. Here, the abstract concept embodied in a familiar arena (i.e., a coach in athletics) was applied to a new arena (i.e., a therapist in therapy) to help the client understand a new concept (i.e., the therapist's role) (Muran & DiGiuseppe, 1990). Muran and DiGiuseppe (1990) have suggested several rules for constructing a psychotherapeutic metaphor for use in therapy:…”