Metaphor in Practice: A Professional's Guide to Using the Science of Language in Psychotherapy

by Niklas Törneke, Steven C. Hayes (Foreword)

The use of metaphor is central to the implementation of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and is a powerful tool for all practicing psychotherapists. In Metaphor in Practice, psychotherapist Niklas Törneke presents the first practical book to combine the behavioral and linguistic sciences of metaphor, and illustrates how and when to apply metaphors in practice for better treatment outcomes.

The use of metaphors and experiential exercises can help clients gain a deeper understanding of the problems that cause their disorders. Metaphors help clients connect with their values, and often spark the inspiration and motivation needed to make a commitment to change. And while metaphor is central to relational frame theory (RFT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), research now shows its usefulness has an even broader reach.

In this book, you’ll find a scientific analysis of metaphor based on over thirty years of research, as well as trends in research over the last ten years. The book includes an overview of RFT, how metaphor has influenced the community of behavior analysis, as well as available clinical research on metaphor use. You’ll also discover how to create metaphors for functional analysis, distance of observation, and things that matter to your client. Most importantly, you’ll find practical examples of metaphors and clinical exercises you can use in-session.

There are many books on metaphor and psychotherapy, but this is the first book to make the connection between the science of metaphor and the detailed clinical process of using that knowledge. If you are a mental health professional—or simply interested in the science of metaphor—this book will provide everything you need to understand and apply this approach.

Genres: Psychology, Language

256 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2017

Reviews

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ever gave much thought to metaphor until I read Niklas Törneke’s book. I am amazed t what a powerful tool it can be for insight regarding how people and why it is useful as a tool to understand people..

[lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

me ha parecido muy rico a nivel práctico y a nivel de diálogos terapéuticos, sin embargo a nivel teorico me ha servido un poco menos però porque el conocimiento que explica e introduce ya lo tenia, aun asi me ha servido para afianzar términos :)

[Robin | Kindle and Candle · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I originally wrote this book review for "The Therapist" magazine's March/April 2018 issue, published by The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). I was provided a free copy of this book by CAMFT in exchange for my review.)

Every therapist – and every human being, for that matter – uses metaphors to describe complex emotions, thoughts, and experiences. Metaphor in Practice heightens the reader’s awareness of how prevalent metaphors are in every-day life, and in our therapy sessions. Niklas Törneke, MD, does a masterful job of not only providing practical therapeutic tools, but also a scientific analysis of metaphors for those who wish to explore the subject in greater deal.

Our field continues to gravitate toward evidence-based practices, and given how heavily therapists and clients rely on metaphors to communicate with each other, it is essential to understand the scientific analysis of this valuable vehicle for communication. The first section of Metaphor in Practice focuses on metaphors in context, the influence of language on one’s thought process, and a sampling of the clinical research that has been conducted to date. Törneke acknowledges that “theoretically disinterested” readers may choose to skip ahead to the second section of the book, which focuses on therapeutic tools; however, those who have a desire to understand the science behind the art of metaphor creation will find the first section to be engaging and informative.

Törneke’s practical application of metaphors addresses a number of relevant clinical themes in the second section of the book. Readers are provided with examples of how to bring awareness to the relationships between thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and the resulting actions and consequences. Metaphors are also used to discern personal goals and values, challenge psychological rigidity, and determine what steps need to be taken to bring about meaningful change. Törneke discusses how to “catch” metaphors in therapy sessions, “cocreate” metaphors with clients, and present experiential metaphors.

As I read Metaphor in Practice, I not only developed a greater understanding of how I use metaphors in sessions, but also how I emphasize those metaphors with hand gestures. My delivery of metaphors has become much more intentional, and cocreating metaphors has brought about some wonderful “aha” moments with clients in sessions. This book may seem like a quick read, but readers will find themselves contemplating the concepts presented in the book long after putting it down. Therapists who are seeking “quick tricks” to apply in sessions, or worksheets to share with clients, will want to look elsewhere for other resources.

Törneke has achieved his goal of presenting the subject, history, and research of metaphors in a practical and clinical manner, while also providing examples of how metaphors can be utilized in a more effective and targeted manner with clients in session. As an added bonus, he has managed to weave humor into portions of Metaphor in Practice by poking fun at his own unintentional use of metaphors within the book itself:

“One of the most obvious conclusions of modern metaphor research is that ‘metaphors are everywhere.’ They are the building blocks of language and many have already been embedded (!) in just these first couple of sentences. See how many you can spot! (Catching, re-search, building blocks…)” (p. 129).

I’m certain you will discover unintentional use of metaphors within this book review as well. Have fun finding them!