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

Metaphors Enhance Radio Problem Discussions

“…Metaphors play an important role in psychotherapy (for reviews, see Ferrara, 1994;Ingram, 1994;McMullen, 1996). McMullen (1989) showed that major themes expressed by clients' metaphorical language matched major themes of therapy.…”

“…Conway (1994, 1996) showed that the most common classes of intrapersonal metaphors produced in psychotherapy are those of self and of emotion. McMullen (1996) reviewed the empirical literature on the use of metaphors in therapy. Following Siegelman's (1990) idea of key metaphors as markers of change that can chart the progress of therapy, McMullen (1996) emphasized that future research should focus on clients' key metaphors, or salient theme-related instances, which often capture the client's concept of self and his or her psychological situation.…”

Approaches to Language, Culture, and Cognition

“…Furthermore, a keener understanding of the cognitive, discursive, and interactional properties of metaphor in the 'real world' context of psychotherapy may contribute towards better use and management of metaphors for therapeutic purposes (Tay, 2012). It has been argued that psychotherapists need to be more aware of the relevance of theoretical advancements in the study of language and its cognitive, socio-cultural, and discursive aspects (McMullen, 1996(McMullen, , 2008Teasdale, 1993). By raising awareness of how idealized forms of "direct" metaphoric communication fail to account for the pragmatic need to exercise hedging, and proceeding to show its dynamics in actual therapeutic talk, it is hoped that the present chapter has made a small contribution in that regard.…”

“…(Meltzoff and Kornreich, 1970: 4) Psychotherapists have long been interested in how metaphors might be helpful in understanding and "modifying" patients' conceptual systems. Descriptive and prescriptive studies have explored various aspects of metaphor use by patients and therapists (Angus, 1996;Long and Lepper, 2008;McMullen, 1996), and offered recommendations on how to communicate therapeutically useful metaphors to patients (Blenkiron, 2010;Kopp and Craw, 1998;Sims, 2003;Stott et al, 2010). Therapists generally agree that metaphors are helpful as a tool for explaining concepts, thoughts, and memories which are either too abstract or emotionally painful to express literally (Lyddon et al, 2001).…”

At the heart of cognition, communication, and language

“…191-192). The second approach, consistent with 'patient-centered' theories which eschew the absolute authority of therapists (Mead & Bower, 2000) and promote alignment with patients' communicative styles (Ferrara, 1991), focuses on the value of metaphors produced by patients. The assumption is that the most valid insights about patients' issues come from patients themselves, and these are often couched in metaphoric language.…”