ABSTRACT
In the last several years, those in the field of psychotherapy and psychology have actively used metaphor, storytelling, and narrative as viable techniques in affecting change in clients. Major influences in this area include Milton Erickson and "indirect hypnotherapists" and contructivists such as Michael White and David Epston. One reason for the growing interest in therapeutic metaphor and storytelling modalities is to provide therapists a way in which to work with clients who "seem stuck," are "resistant," thought of as "noncompliant," or otherwise unable to respond to traditional direct treatment approaches (Lankton & Lankton, 1989). Some have found this work to be more respectful of clients. The work of Milton Erickson has been described as moving from the "psychology of pathology" to a "psychology of potentials" (Mills & Crowley, 1986, p. xvii). Clients are believed to bring their own internal resources and potentials to therapy. Therapeutic metaphor and storytelling are techniques with which to tap into this unconscious store of experience, feelings, and thoughts, to help facilitate new learnings and meaning-making.
