Therapist and client together create a metaphor that captures the essence of the style of life. "You are like a driver who always brakes at a green light" or "You build a fortress to protect yourself, but inside it is lonely." The metaphor makes abstract understanding vivid and memorable.
Step-by-step guide
- From the style of life, find an image-metaphor
- Offer it to the client: 'An image comes to me… How is that for you?'
- Let the client refine or change the metaphor
- Use the metaphor in further work as a 'language' for discussing the pattern
- When change happens — update the metaphor
When to use
- After the lifestyle investigation
- When insight needs to become memorable
- To ease a conversation about difficult patterns
- When the client thinks in images
Key phrases
An image comes to me: you are like someone who builds a wall around themselves so they won't be hurt. But behind the wall — it is lonely
It seems you are running a marathon that no one asked you to run. What if you could just walk?
Follow-up questions
How is this image for you? What would you add or change?
If you could change one thing in this picture — what would it be?
Alternative phrasings
What image comes to you when you think about your life?
If your life were a film — what genre would it be?
Warnings
- ⚠️ The metaphor is an offer, not an imposition. The client may offer their own
- ⚠️ Avoid hurtful or humiliating images
- ⚠️ The metaphor must be simple and recognizable
Source: Kopp R. Metaphor Therapy: Using Client-Generated Metaphors in Psychotherapy
Materials are informational and educational and summarize publicly available scientific sources. They are not medical or psychological advice, are not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, and do not replace consultation with a qualified professional.