Narrative or metaphor therapy utilizes the patient's own memories and anecdotes as a method for tapping into and confronting the many layers of the complex inner self. The book is particularly innovative in the using narrative or metaphor therapy with adults suffering from severe mental illness. Unlike other books on the use of narrative therapy, this book focuses on the use of pre-scripted narratives that can be used with individuals to examine their personal situations, as well as techniques to guide individuals in the development of their own narratives. A comprehensive and detailed guidebook for narrative therapists, this book addresses various experiential therapeutic interventions.
This book represents a bold attempt to address contemporary issues in both metaphor and psychotherapy research. On one hand, metaphor research is increasingly concerned not just with describing metaphors in discourse, but how they could be used more adroitly in purposive ‘real world’ contexts such as psychotherapy. On the other hand, while a growing number of mental health professionals believe that metaphors contribute in some way to the psychotherapy process, their ability and willingness to use metaphors might be compromised by a relative unfamiliarity with the various nuanced aspects of metaphor theory. The present analysis of metaphors in authentic psychotherapeutic talk brings these theoretical aspects to the forefront, and suggests how they can be applied to enhance the use of communication of metaphors in psychotherapy. It should be of interest to metaphor researchers, mental health professionals, and discourse analysts in general.
This is the first book on counselling skills to look in detail at the practical interventions and tools used to establish the therapeutic relationship. Step-by-step, the text teaches the reader exactly how to use these skills with clients to address their concerns and achieve therapeutic change. Integrative and pluralistic in approach, the text covers the key techniques from all the major therapeutic models, placing them in their historical and theoretical contexts. Techniques covered include empathic responding, experiential focusing, Gestalt, metaphors, task-directed imagery, ego state therapy, solution focused therapy, cognitive behvioral therapy, narrative therapy and self-in-relationship therapy. The book: - presents each technique from the perspective of its underlying theory; - gives practical instruction on how to deliver each intervention; - provides extracts from counselling sessions to demonstrate the technique in action. This book is crucial reading for all trainees on counselling and psychotherapy courses or preparing to use counselling techniques in a range of other professional settings. It is also helpful for professionals who wish to acquire additional skills. Augustine Meier, certified clinical psychologist, professor Emeritus, Faculty of Human Sciences, Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Ontario and Founder and President of the Ottawa Institute for Object Relations Therapy. Micheline Boivin, certified clinical psychologist, Psychological Services of the Family, Youth and Children′s Program at the Centre for Health and Social Services, Gatineau, Québec.
Gestalt therapy is well-grounded in its daily practice, but is a field which is still in the process of developing a research tradition to support this practice. Gestalt practitioner researchers devote themselves to the generation of interest in the field, the enlargement of capacities and expertise, and the sharing of research projects and their findings. The larger Gestalt community realises that such research has begun to take place, but it requires more information and to be brought into the conversation through a book that speaks of philosophy and method and actually shares some of the research that emerges. This volume fills this lacuna, collecting for the first time the theoretical grounds for research in Gestalt therapy, and introduces useful research methods and presents actual research projects to provide inspiration to Gestalt practitioner researchers. The book will be helpful not only to Gestalt therapists interested in research, but also to students of Gestalt therapy involved in training, as it will serve to bolster their own academic performance. It will also be of interest to the larger field of psychotherapy research, in demonstrating how a clinical school based on principles such as existential dialogue, phenomenology and field theory is responding to the need for evidence-based practice, and is keeping pace with the needs of a twenty-first century professional community.
Metaphors are a powerful tool in communication, capable of conveying complex ideas and emotions in a concise and relatable manner. This book explores the use of metaphors as a technique for effective communication, making it a helpful resource for individuals across all walks of life. By understanding and utilizing metaphors, we can enhance our ability to express ourselves, connect with others, and foster a deeper understanding of the world around us. Firstly, this book provides practical guidance on how to employ metaphors effectively in both spoken and written communication. Metaphors serve as a means to simplify complex concepts, making them more accessible to a broader audience. The authors of this book explain different types of metaphors, such as analogical metaphors, visual metaphors, and conceptual metaphors, and offer valuable advice on when and how to use them to maximize their impact. This knowledge can be particularly beneficial in professional settings, enabling individuals to articulate their ideas with clarity and creativity. Secondly, the book explores the psychological and cognitive effects of metaphors on individuals. Metaphorical language has the ability to evoke emotions and activate various areas of the brain, enhancing the listener or reader's engagement and comprehension. By understanding the power of metaphors, we can become more persuasive communicators, whether in personal relationships, business negotiations, or public speaking engagements. Furthermore, this book delves into the metaphorical nature of human thinking itself, shedding light on how our mental maps are shaped by metaphors, ultimately influencing our perceptions and decision-making processes. In conclusion, the book on metaphor techniques offers valuable insights and practical tools for effective communication. By employing metaphors, individuals can enhance their ability to communicate complex ideas, connect with others, and gain a deeper understanding of the world.
Choice Recommended Read This volume tackles the critical question of whether people change or whether they remain relatively constant across the lifespan. Much existing literature in psychology has largely endorsed the concept of stability. Indeed, in many people’s minds, the person is understood to be set in stone, as a function of early socialization and reaching a particular stage of development, evolutionary processes, or traits that are hard-wired from the beginning by genes and biology. However, in recent years, important scientific developments in theory and research concerning the psychology of change have emerged. In contrast to the commonly held conception of the individual as fixed, this research illustrates how malleable people are—showing much behavioral plasticity. The chapters in this volume, written by scholars at the cutting-edge of research into the psychology of change, showcase these developments with the aim of advancing knowledge of the field and encouraging further research. Topics addressed include brain function, cognitive performance, personality, psychological well-being, collective action to achieve social change, responses to life stressors, and political change. The message is clear—the culture we live in, what happens to us along the way, and who we think we are and want to be, can all change people.
In times of crisis, how do people conceptualise and communicate their experiences through different forms and channels? How can original research in cognitive linguistics, discourse analysis and crisis studies advance our understanding of the ways in which we interact with and communicate about crisis events? In answering these questions, this volume examines the unique functions, features and applications of the metaphors and frames that emerge from and give shape to crisis-related discourses. The chapters in this volume present original concepts, approaches, authentic data and findings of crisis discourses in a wide range of organisational, political and personal contexts that affect a diverse body of language users and communities. This book will appeal to a broad readership in linguistics, sociological studies, cognitive sciences, crisis studies as well as language and communication researchers and practitioners.
In this cross-disciplinary study, a group of researchers critically examine the ways in which narrative—that is, written and told stories and legends—might aid in coping with traumatic or stressful life situations and with the emotions that these situations engender. Starting with an introduction of basic narrative theories and the therapeutic effects of storytelling, the book moves on to a series of lucid case studies. The contributors present a diversity of material, such as weblogs, poetry, magazines, memoirs, and oral accounts from antiquity to the present. With a diversity of perspectives—the contributors hail from a variety of fields, including folkloristics, psychology, writing studies, poetry therapies, and classical studies—this book benefits specialists in a number of different disciplines, as well as individuals interested in the possibility of inner exploration sparked by storytelling.
This volume provides a critical and reflexive view into the counselling profession in India. Counselling and psychotherapy are emergent fields in India; there is inadequate synergy between theory and practice at present, as psychotherapy and counselling practice in the field have not sufficiently informed research, and vice versa. While research on counselling, the counselling process and training, and development of counsellors is extremely vital for the growth of the profession, practitioners seldom feel the need to wear the lens of the researcher. Drawing upon primary research on counsellors and psychotherapists in different parts of India, this volume bridges this gap and discusses the personal and professional journeys of counsellors at various stages of their career, which in turn facilitates further research on counselling in India. The chapters discuss practical issues like the challenges faced by novice counsellors, which contribute to feelings of inadequacy and incompetence; synergy between the personal and professional lives of counsellors and the effect of the counselling process on the self; elements that go into training and how counselling education could be positioned and developed; the use of creative arts in therapy; and the role of school counsellors and the process of negotiating boundaries among various stakeholders in the school system. The volume also examines ethical dilemmas in the field, which have wider policy ramifications.
This volume Psychology of Peace Promotion builds on previous volumes of peace psychology, extending its contributions by drawing from peace research and practices from five continents – Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America. The book discusses emerging disciplinary and inter-disciplinary theories and actions. Each chapter begins with a theoretical framework for understanding peace, followed by a critical review of peace promotion in a specific setting, and concludes with an illustration of psychological principles or theories in either a narrative format or an empirical investigation. This volume develops, as well as guides, its readers on the epistemology of promoting and sustaining peace in varied settings around the world. This book presents relevant, cutting-edge peace promotion strategies to anyone interested in promoting peace more effectively, including peace practitioners, scholars, teachers, and researchers, as well as the general reader. It presents a number of innovative approaches, illustrating their applications to specific social problems, settings and populations. In addition, this volume has much in store for both academic and practice-based scientists in the field of peace psychology, mental health professionals, administrators, educators, and graduate students from various disciplines. The goal is the promotion and sustenance of peace, using theoretically sound, yet innovative and creative approaches. As expressed by the United Nations Secretary, “peace does not occur by happenstance.” Promoting and sustaining peace requires reflective, thoughtful, and targeted efforts. This book inspires its readers to develop a better understanding of peace and the means of promoting peace in a sustainable way.
