Description
Book SynopsisGeorge W. Burns, the master of therapeutic storytelling, has brought together a group of international therapists to describe why and how they use storytelling in their clinical practice and share specific examples of what metaphors they have successfully used with their clients.
Trade Review"This is another unique book brought to us by Australian George Burns. This is an excellent book for new and advanced therapists; it is another one of Georges' books that you will have to order for your own shelves, as I won't be lending you mine." (
Psychotherapy in Australia, August 2008)
"The reader will find a wealth of sundry stories in this book, some woven by the therapist, some by the client, and others in collaboration. The boundless urge to tell our stories and those of our clients will, with the help of this book, sooner or later prevail." (PsycCRITIQUES, 7/2/08)
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments xvii
Introduction xix
What This Book Offers xx
The Contributors xxi
The Contributions xxii
The Structure of This Book xxiii
Following Your Gurus: An Opening Story 1
Chapter 1 Metaphor and Therapy: Clarifying Some Confusing Concepts 3
George W. Burns
What Is Metaphor? 4
Why Use Metaphors in Therapy? 4
Is Metaphor Therapy or Communication of Therapy? 7
What Type of Metaphor Is That? 9
Are There Times Not to Use Metaphor? 12
References 13
Part One IMPROVING MOOD 15
Chapter 2 The Healing Is Complete: Outcome- Oriented Experiential Metaphors in a Case of Major Depression 17
George W. Burns
Contributor’s Story 17
Preview the Chapter 18
Where to Begin? 19
What Did Mary Want from Therapy? 20
What Was Useful to Know about Mary? 21
What Interventions Were Likely to Help? 22
What Was the Long- Term Outcome? 27
References 28
Chapter 3 An Empty Sadness: Exploring and Transforming Client- Generated Metaphors 30
Richard R. Kopp
Contributor’s Story 30
Preview the Chapter 31
Exploring and Transforming Client- Generated Metaphors 33
Metaphor Therapy and Diversity 36
“An Empty Sadness”: Case Example #1 37
“I’m the One Who Blew Up”: Case Example #2 39
Conclusion 42
References 42
Chapter 4 And This Little Piggy Stayed Home: Playful Metaphors in Treating Childhood Separation Anxiety 44
Julie H. Linden
Contributor’s Story 44
Preview the Chapter 45
A Clinical Framework 46
A Family of Porcupines 48
Play and Playful Therapy 49
Finding Strengths and Exceptions 50
A Doll as Metaphor and Cotherapist 52
“Thank You M” 53
A Postscript 53
References 54
Chapter 5 Climbing Anxiety Mountain: Generating Metaphors in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 55
Mikaela J. Hildebrandt Lindsay B. Fletcher and Steven C. Hayes
Contributors’ Story 55
Preview the Chapter 56
Defining the Problem 57
The Function of Metaphor in ACT 58
The Therapeutic Relationship 59
Generating ACT- Consistent Metaphors 60
Case Outcome 64
References 64
Part Two BUILDING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS 65
Chapter 6 The Case of Carol: Empowering Decision- Making through Metaphor and Hypnosis 67
Michael D. Yapko
Contributor’s Story 67
Preview the Chapter 68
The Context of the Session 69
Interviewing Carol: Determining Goals and Assessing Resources 69
Why Use Metaphor in Carol’s Case? 70
General Points about Hypnosis Indirect Suggestion and Metaphor 70
Identifying Goals of Treatment 72
Carol’s Resources 73
Hypnosis and Delivering the Metaphor to Carol 74
Session Follow- Up 76
Final Comments 77
References 78
Chapter 7 The Woman Who Wanted to Lie on the Floor: A Social Constructionist Use of Metaphor in a Tale of Two Clients 79
Valerie E. Lewis
Contributor’s Story 79
Preview the Chapter 80
A Social Constructionist Use of Metaphor 81
Reina’s Tale 82
Sharing Client Stories 86
Margrit’s Message for Reina 87
Reina and Margrit’s Message for Us 88
Chapter 8 Trekking to Happiness—No Sherpa Required: A Utilization Approach to Transcending an Abusive Relationship 89
Gregory Smit
Contributor’s Story 89
Preview the Chapter 90
Searching for Resources 91
Planning the Direction of Treatment 93
Defining the Therapeutic and Metaphoric Objectives 94
Planning the Steps for a Metaphor Intervention 95
Beginning the Trek 96
Offering More Than a Metaphor 97
Learning from an Experience 98
References 99
Chapter 9 And the Two Snakes Fought: Storybook Therapy to Help Deal with the Divorce Monster 100
Joy Nel
Contributor’s Story 100
Preview the Chapter 101
Narrative as “Storybook Therapy” 102
The Processes of Storybook Therapy 103
Listening to the Problem- Saturated Story 103
Reauthoring and Strengthening the Preferred Story 106
Finding Hope in a Cheeseburger 112
References 113
Part Three CHANGING PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR 115
Chapter 10 Under Fire: Reflection and Metaphor in Narrative Therapy 117
Christine Perry
Contributor’s Story 117
Preview the Chapter 118
The “Narrative” Metaphor of the Counseling Process 119
Reflecting Teams Metaphor and Narrative Therapy 120
The Case of Paul 121
An Alternative Story 124
Implications for Professional Practice 126
References 127
Chapter 11 The Door Is Open the Bird Can Fly: Merging Therapist and Client Metaphors in Child Therapy 128
Joyce C. Mills
Contributor’s Story 128
Preview the Chapter 129
Passage One: A Safe Environment 131
Joey’s Story: Creating a Safe Environment 131
Passage Two: You Gotta Crawl Before You Fly 133
Joey’s Story: The Importance of Keys 134
Passage Three: A Time of Greatest Change 134
Joey’s Story: The Process of Change 135
Passage Four: Finding Your Wings 136
Joey’s Story: Flying Free 137
References 137
Chapter 12 Everyone’s Life Is a Story: Guided Metaphor in Changing Global Lifestyle 138
Rubin Battino
Contributor’s Story 138
Preview the Chapter 139
Step- by- Step Processes for Guided Metaphor 140
The Case of George 142
Who Can Benefit from Guided Metaphor? 147
Mechanics of Delivery 147
References 148
Chapter 13 Scared Speechless: Goal- Oriented and Multiple Embedded Metaphors in a Case of Psychogenic Dysphonia 150
Carol A. Hicks- Lankton
Contributor’s Story 150
Preview the Chapter 151
The Assessment 152
The Client’s Resources Strengths and Skills 153
A Multiple Embedded Metaphor 156
References 162
Part Four ENHANCING HEALTH AND WELL- BEING 163
Chapter 14 Scareless Ghost Painless Pasta: Kids’ Own Stories as Therapeutic Metaphor 165
George W. Burns
Contributor’s Story 165
Preview the Chapter 166
Kids’ Own Healing Stories 169
Mr. Peter Pasta Helps Ease the Pain 172
References 176
Chapter 15 Befriending Your Problems: Metaphor with a Self- Mutilating Young Woman in Transition 178
Wendel A. Ray and Jana P. Sutton
Contributors’ Story 178
Preview the Chapter 179
The Secret Behind the Secret 181
The Nonexpert One- Down Stance 182
Effecting Metaphoric Change 183
Facilitating a Change of Best Friend 184
A Closing Comment 188
References 188
Chapter 16 Night Night Sleep Tight Don’t Let the Sharks Bite: “What’s Missing?” in Metaphors 190
Robert McNeilly
Contributor’s Story 190
Preview the Chapter 191
A Personal Initiation into Storytelling 192
Creating Expectancy in the Client 193
Where Can We Look for a Metaphor? 194
Accessing an Individual Client’s Unique Resources 195
“What’s Missing?” in Therapy 196
Bringing the Learning to Life 197
Reflections after the Session 197
Conclusion and Invitation 198
References 198
Chapter 17 The Metaphor That Sang Its Own Sad Song: Therapeutic Storytelling in Pediatric Hospice Care 199
Roxanna Erickson Klein
Contributor’s Story 199
Preview the Chapter 200
The Homecoming 201
Telling Their Own Stories 202
The Illness 202
Setting Goals 203
Relating through Stories 204
Strengths within Weakness 205
Preparing for Death 205
A Companion with a Metaphor 206
An Unexpected Song 206
An Unintentional Metaphor 208
Part Five DEVELOPING LIFE SKILLS 211
Chapter 18 Reclaiming Poise after Persecution: Client- Based Cultural Stories in Trauma Therapy 213
Angela Ebert and Hasham Al Musawi
Contributors’ Story 213
Preview the Chapter 214
A Little of Hasham’s Background 215
The Interventions 217
Rebuilding Trust 220
A Little of Hasham’s Outcome 222
This Too Will Pass 223
References 223
Chapter 19 Of Goths Fairies Dragons and CBT: Joining the Client’s World with an Evidence- Based Metaphor 225
George W. Burns
Contributor’s Story 225
Preview the Chapter 226
The Assessment 227
The Background 230
The Intervention 231
The Metaphor Structure 232
The Follow- Up 235
References 235
Chapter 20 That’s Not a Problem: Metaphor with a Disruptive Client in Ericksonian Group Therapy 237
Teresa Garcia- Sanchez
Contributor’s Story 237
Preview the Chapter 238
Why Work in Groups? 239
The Structure of Group Sessions 240
A Challenging Client 241
Not Seeing What Is 242
A Puzzling Metaphor 244
A Reflection 248
References 248
Using Your Loaf: A Concluding Story 249
Reference 252
Resource Section 253
Further Reading Resources 253
Contributors’ Favorite Metaphor Books 257
Index 265
