The process where the listener "searches" their own experience to make sense of the metaphor, effectively applying the story to themselves.
can address personal needs indirectly. Key takeaways from his work include: Overcoming Resistance david gordon therapeutic metaphors pdf
The resolution of the metaphor must offer a new behavioral choice. In the sapling metaphor, perhaps the wind (external event) blows down the oak tree, or perhaps the sapling learns to bend sideways to find a patch of light. The act of bending or shifting is the prescription for the client. The process where the listener "searches" their own
: Tailoring the story's language to match the client's primary way of processing information (e.g., using "I see" vs. "I feel"). Utilization In the sapling metaphor, perhaps the wind (external
David Gordon is an American author, trainer, and co-founder of the Institute of Therapeutic Learning. He is best known for his groundbreaking 1978 book, Therapeutic Metaphors: Helping Others Through the Looking Glass . While Milton Erickson popularized the clinical use of metaphor, Gordon was the first to systematically deconstruct how Erickson did it.
: By resolving a conflict within a fictional narrative, the client's unconscious mind is guided toward resolving the parallel conflict in reality.