ABSTRACT
EST uses metaphors and analogies to help clients understand the nature of emotional experience. Of particular relevance in this chapter are metaphors for inclusiveness or acceptance of emotions as part of a wide range of potential experience. Rather than focusing on eliminating an emotion the Emotional Schema model emphasizes containment and acceptance. The idea of inclusiveness and acceptance of emotions can be introduced by asking, “What happens when you have an emotion that you don’t like?” This can lead to a discussion of the client’s intolerance of an emotion, fear of emotion and attempts to escape from an emotion. Metaphors include emotional experience as The Living Stream, Emotional Landscape, Emotional Lens, The Clouds and The Symphony.
