ABSTRACT
There are many different ways of finding therapeutic stories; it is possible to search for them consciously, or to enter a trance with positive expectations and allow them simply to come to you. A treasure trove of insightful anecdotes, paradigmatic stories and metaphors suitable for use as therapeutic stories can be found in the books of wisdom and oral traditions of various cultures and religions. It is useful to reiterate the fact that every story – including those told orally – serves a therapeutic purpose, and that the task of the therapist is to identify this purpose. Films represent a treasure trove of stories that can be used for therapeutic purposes; once a therapist is familiar with his or her client's favourite films, the films themselves or the genre as a whole can be used as a source of examples and metaphors, opening up the path to possible solutions.
