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Therapeutic Metaphors and Storytelling

Therapeutic Metaphors and Storytelling
Hypnotherapy (Hypno)
🌱 Resource activation 🎨 Imagery

Use stories to organize new learning indirectly.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Choose a story with structural similarity.
  2. Include resource and change moments.
  3. Avoid moralizing.
  4. Let the client draw meaning.

When to use

  • When the client has consented to trance-oriented or imagery-based work
  • When a focused experiential intervention fits the agreed therapeutic goal
  • When the client can remain oriented and within the tolerance window

Key phrases

You can notice what happens as we work with therapeutic metaphors and storytelling at your own pace.

Follow-up questions

What did you notice in your body, images, or attention?
What small difference could be useful outside the session?

Alternative phrasings

There is no need to force anything; simply notice what your mind and body already know how to do.
Let us keep this practical and connect it with one real situation this week.

Warnings

  • ⚠️ Do not use hypnosis without explicit consent and psychoeducation
  • ⚠️ Avoid leading questions, especially in memory-related work
  • ⚠️ Stop or reorient if the client becomes disoriented, flooded, or dissociative

Source: Erickson, M.H. & Rossi, E.L. (1979). Hypnotherapy; Burns, G.W. (2001). 101 Healing Stories; Lankton, S. & Lankton, C. (1989). Tales of Enchantment

hypnotherapy trance suggestion self-hypnosis

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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.