Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences
Question
Asked 13 February 2016
Which author combines Person Centered Therapy and the use of metaphor (or metaphor analysis)?
Does anybody know studies combining Person Centered Therapy following Rogers (and later developments) and the use of metaphor (as a technique) or metaphor analysis? So far I just discovered (in German language): Oberlechner, Thomas (2005). Metaphern in der Psychotherapie. In: Person 2, S. 107–112. Any advice and suggestions will be greatly appreciated ...
Most recent answer
Meanwhile I got some answers (thank you!!), but as my question is more than three years old, I want to be more precise and I want to share my findings: First: Is anyone on this forum working on the connection between Rogers' approach and metaphors? ("Metaphor" is _not_ meant in the colloquial sense, but in the sense of cognitive linguistics according to Lakoff and Johnson). Serious elaborations seem to be rare. The best examples so far:
Wickman, Scott A.; Campbell, Cynthia (2003). The Coconstruction of Congruency: Investigating the Conceptual Metaphors of Carl Rogers and Gloria. Counselor Education & Supervision, Vol. 43, p. 11-21
Wickman, Scott A.; Daniels, M. Harry; White, Lyle J.; Fesmire, Steven A. (1999). A “Primer” in Conceptual Metaphor for Counselors. Journal of Counseling & Development • Vol. 77, p. 389-394
The following was shared by: Hendrika Vande Kemp Hendrika Vande Kemp (Thanks!)
Angus, Lynne E.; Rennie, David L. (1989) Envisioning the representational world: The client's experience of metaphoric expression in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, Vol 26(3), 1989, 372-379. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0085448
James Lawley Thank you for directing me to Grove. If I understood his work (that could be questioned) he seems to be in a greater distance to Rogers as well to Lakoff and Johnson. I do not doubt that this approach is working! Actually I am more interested in the theoretical and empirical debate, especially in qualitative research (where your contribution to metaphorical problems in interviewing has to be acknowledged).
I look forward to an exchange and further findings!
All Answers (6)
Azusa Pacific University
Dear Rudolf,
Sheldon Kopp was a humanistic (person-centered) therapist who used metaphors. I wonder if his books would point you in the right direction.
Albertus Magnus College
I think Gendlin's experiential therapy (which is definitely in the Rogerian tradition) makes explicit use of metaphor as a way of amplifying the impact of therapist statements, generating memorable new meanings by juxtaposing ideas and images in novel ways.
A few other possibilities:
Envisioning the representational world: The client's experience of metaphoric expression in psychotherapy.
By Angus, Lynne E.; Rennie, David L.
Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, Vol 26(3), 1989, 372-379.
Investigated the interactive nature of clients' and therapists' experiencing during the expression, apprehension, and elaboration of metaphors. Analysis of audiotaped inquiry interviews between 4 clients (in therapy for at least 12 sessions) and 4 therapists (1 psychoanalyst, 1 Gestalt therapist, and 2 eclectics within a person-centered and psychodynamic framework) was conducted. Metaphors emerged from the associated meaning context when participants attempted to verbally depict felt experiences during therapy sessions. Metaphors symbolized inner experience by (1) providing an associative link to the experience, (2) representing aspects of self-identity, and (3) symbolizing role relationship patterns. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Narratives and lively metaphors: Hermeneutics as a way of listening.
By Worsley, Richard
Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies, Vol 11(4), Dec 2012, 304-320.
Therapists need to keep in mind the philosophical bases of their work. Paul Ricoeur's work on hermeneutic philosophy can cast light upon our understanding of the client as she develops her meanings and narratives of her life. Clients' narratives are polysemic: they carry multiple meanings. The task of the therapist is to both bear in mind the multiplicity of narrative meanings within the client's story and as appropriate to facilitate the client in doing the same. This is explored through a case study. The construction of theory as polysemic also provides a novel way to consider theory integration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)
Envisioning the representational world: The client's experience of metaphoric expression in psychotherapy.
By Angus, Lynne E.; Rennie, David L.
Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, Vol 26(3), 1989, 372-379.
Investigated the interactive nature of clients' and therapists' experiencing during the expression, apprehension, and elaboration of metaphors. Analysis of audiotaped inquiry interviews between 4 clients (in therapy for at least 12 sessions) and 4 therapists (1 psychoanalyst, 1 Gestalt therapist, and 2 eclectics within a person-centered and psychodynamic framework) was conducted. Metaphors emerged from the associated meaning context when participants attempted to verbally depict felt experiences during therapy sessions. Metaphors symbolized inner experience by (1) providing an associative link to the experience, (2) representing aspects of self-identity, and (3) symbolizing role relationship patterns. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
2 Recommendations
The Developing Company
Have a look at the work of David Grove and his development of Clean Language with client's autogenic metaphors. In 25 years as a practicing psychotherapist I've not come across any other method that work so closely, so directly and so consistently with client's metaphors. Processes based on Grove's work and also widely used outside psychotherapy and counselling.
Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences
Meanwhile I got some answers (thank you!!), but as my question is more than three years old, I want to be more precise and I want to share my findings: First: Is anyone on this forum working on the connection between Rogers' approach and metaphors? ("Metaphor" is _not_ meant in the colloquial sense, but in the sense of cognitive linguistics according to Lakoff and Johnson). Serious elaborations seem to be rare. The best examples so far:
Wickman, Scott A.; Campbell, Cynthia (2003). The Coconstruction of Congruency: Investigating the Conceptual Metaphors of Carl Rogers and Gloria. Counselor Education & Supervision, Vol. 43, p. 11-21
Wickman, Scott A.; Daniels, M. Harry; White, Lyle J.; Fesmire, Steven A. (1999). A “Primer” in Conceptual Metaphor for Counselors. Journal of Counseling & Development • Vol. 77, p. 389-394
The following was shared by: Hendrika Vande Kemp Hendrika Vande Kemp (Thanks!)
Angus, Lynne E.; Rennie, David L. (1989) Envisioning the representational world: The client's experience of metaphoric expression in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, Vol 26(3), 1989, 372-379. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0085448
James Lawley Thank you for directing me to Grove. If I understood his work (that could be questioned) he seems to be in a greater distance to Rogers as well to Lakoff and Johnson. I do not doubt that this approach is working! Actually I am more interested in the theoretical and empirical debate, especially in qualitative research (where your contribution to metaphorical problems in interviewing has to be acknowledged).
I look forward to an exchange and further findings!
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