Metaphor

On the left side of the chart above, you see the real world on the top and the metaphoric world on the bottom. The real world contains a problem but the client can not determine in a solution. So the therapist provides a metaphoric world with a metaphorical problem and a solution.

The client subconsciously processes the metaphorical solution and applies it to their own life. They create the solution which fits their life the best.

True Life Application of Therapeutic Metaphors

Although I've used Therapeutic Metaphors countless times, there was one case which worked out so well, it surprised me as well. A family contacted me because their son joined an extreme cult and cut off all connectionswith the family. He cut off his telephone because he considered it the work of the Devil. He would only communicate through the mail.

One day, he invited his brother for a visit. The young man informed his brother of the terms. They would sit in the park and silently admire God's creation - nothing more. And if this agreement was violated, the visit was over.

So, he couldn't talk about any of the real important issues and he came to my office with an impossible challenge. "How can I get through to my brother if I can't talk to him."

I wrote a Therapeutic Metaphor and we disguised it as a newspaper article and left it in the young man's bathroom. Less than one month later, he returned home to his family.

Yes, it's an amazing story but you will have this ability as well when you discover the power of Therapeutic Metaphor.

Unlimited Applications And Unlimited Power To Assist Others

Although Erickson and many students of NLP use Therapeutic Metaphor in therapy, there are many other valuable uses including:

• Being able to hear and appreciate the significance of the metaphors people use to describe their experiences and being able to relate right back to them on those terms.

• Communicating more effectively with members of your family and talking to them about really difficulttopics. It's often hardest to work with family members but Therapeutic Metaphor makes it all possible.

• Persuade a client to take action without asking for a sale. Your results will soar and you'll never lose rapport with the client.

Metaphors create a shared language and a shared world in which you can easily and impact fully communicate to others.

And here is the best part, that shared world of Therapeutic Metaphor can become one in which the client finds their own resolution to their problem. And you can be the one who makes it all possible.

Are You Still Using Outdated Techniques?

In the Glory Days of NLP, David Gordon was one of the co-developers. He was part of an inner circle with Richard Bandler, John Grinder, Leslie Cameron-Bandler, and Robert Dilts.

John Grinder and Richard Bandler had just completed their extraordinary modeling of Milton Ericksonand produced three books or Erickson's language and therapeutic patterns.

David Gordon was charged with producing a model of Erickson's stories. The result was "Therapeutic Metaphors" which was published in 1978. Armed with Gordon's magical work, people were able to use Therapeutic Metaphors to induce profound change.

But ever since the date of publication, David continued to refine and develop his work. Unfortunately, only a handful of people have ever been updated on Therapeutic Metaphor.

Imagine if you were still running a computer on PC-DOS 1.0? You'd be missing out on the power, the elegance, and all the latest developments.