Metaphor in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Comparative Study of Four Cases by a Practitioner–researcher

Long, Philippa Shadrach; Lepper, Georgia

doi:10.1111/j.1752-0118.2008.00090.x

Cited by 20 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…In the western world, the use of metaphor in psychotherapy has long occupied the interests of theorists and practitioners from different therapy models, including psychoanalysis, cognitive‐behavioural, family and group therapy (Abbatiello, ; Bruhn et al ., ; Gans, ; Long and Lepper, ). The most commonly used metaphors were those generated through the analogical, symbolical and figurative oral language of therapists and clients.…”

Section: Use Of Metaphors In Family Therapy In Chinese Culturementioning

confidence: 99%

Use of metaphors in Chinese family therapy: a qualitative study

Liu¹,

Zhao²,

Miller³

2012

Journal of Family Therapy

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The use of metaphors in family therapy has been extensively written about in western literature, yet very few studies on this subject have been conducted in China. The goal of this study was to summarize the metaphors used by Chinese family therapists. Transcriptions from 36 hours of video‐recorded family and couple therapy sessions from eighteen Chinese family patients were qualitatively analysed to identify categories of therapist‐produced metaphors that are applicable to the Chinese context. Two major categories emerged: verbal and non‐verbal metaphors. Verbal metaphors included four subgroups: story, object comparison, sayings and age. Nonverbal metaphors involved two subgroups: gesture and spatialization. The influence of the Chinese culture on the use of metaphor is discussed. This study adds to the greater understanding of how to integrate metaphors in therapy in the Chinese context.

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Section: Use Of Metaphors In Family Therapy In Chinese Culturementioning

confidence: 99%

Use of metaphors in Chinese family therapy: a qualitative study

Liu¹,

Zhao²,

Miller³

2012

Journal of Family Therapy

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“…Two of these were general, meaning they were found in all included studies: (1) Awareness/insight/self‐understanding, and (2) reassurance/support/safety. Singular studies deepen the understanding of processes underlying the helpful impact in these categories, for example how the process of meaning making through metaphor development between client and therapist contributes to outcome (Long & Lepper, 2008), or how therapy equips clients with insight and learning that are useful for later problem‐solving (Carey et al, 2007). The reassurance/support/safety‐category is detailed through, for example, studies of how the benign voice of the therapist is integrated in the client through the process of therapy (Mosher & Stiles, 2009), and studies reporting how clients experience therapist congruence as important to their change process (Binder, Moltu, Hummelsund, Sagen, & Holgersen, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Skilled therapists' experiences of how they contributed to constructive change in difficult therapies: A qualitative study

Moltu

Binder

2014

Couns and Psychother Res

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Background: Psychotherapy is effective, but knowledge about how it produces change is insufficient. Researching how skilled therapists obtain change in naturalistic settings is recommended as a fruitful research strategy to advance this knowledge. Aims: We studied how skilled therapists from various affiliations experience their own contribution in specific therapies, and how they integrate therapeutic techniques. Method: We performed semi-structured in-depth interviews with 12 experienced therapists from various affiliations, and analysed transcripts with an explorative and reflexive systematic qualitative approach. Results: We report the overarching theme of maintaining double awareness to provide a relational space for growth, achieved through three concrete themes: (1) tailoring the therapeutic frame to relational struggles, (2) using embodied empathy, and (3) creating meaning from the perspective of a theoretical model. Themes are common across therapeutic modalities. Conclusions: We discuss how the themes offer a relational contextualisation that allows for a constructive understanding of the place of theory and technique in therapy.

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“…Significantly in this regard, some participants talked of their writings as a bridge to talk about difficult things with their counsellors. Studies by Dunn (2011) and Shadrach Long and Lepper (2008) suggest that imagery in writing may provide transitional space between the client's inner world and the counsellor. Bayne and Thompson (2000) acknowledge that metaphor may create distance between client and counsellor, but may also be the only way some client stories are ever told at all.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Words that work? Exploring client writing in therapy

Phillips

Rolfe

2016

Couns and Psychother Res

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AimThere has been relatively little research enabling the direct voices of those who write voluntarily in counselling to be heard. This study explored the lived experience of five participants who voluntarily used self‐reflective writing whilst in counselling and found this helpful.MethodFive participants took part in a qualitative study based on a short writing task and related semi‐structured interview. Their accounts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis, informed by psychodynamic thinking.FindingsParticipants used writing as a means of catharsis and to enable expression and exploration of parts of the self that were not immediately accessible. Writing was also a safe and private place to hold or contain unmanageable material, the true or hidden self and the process of counselling itself. Finally, writing functioned as a bridge, enabling participants to hold onto, internalise and extend their counselling. When shared in counselling, writing could also help the client to communicate, re‐own projections deposited in the writing and work towards self‐acceptance.ConclusionsWorking with client writing may be helpful, enabling the self to be heard, when speaking may initially feel too threatening. This may have relevance for client groups who find face‐to‐face counselling difficult.

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Metaphor in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Comparative Study of Four Cases by a Practitioner–researcher

Cited by 20 publications

References 27 publications

Use of metaphors in Chinese family therapy: a qualitative study

Use of metaphors in Chinese family therapy: a qualitative study

Skilled therapists' experiences of how they contributed to constructive change in difficult therapies: A qualitative study

Words that work? Exploring client writing in therapy

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