ABSTRACT
There are many examples of the use of metaphors in the consultation literature (Berlin, 1967, 1977; Caplan, 1970). In fact, several articles have used various metaphors to describe and better understand the consultation process as a whole (Kitchner & Greenstein, 1983; Smith, 1984; Trickett, 1987). However, very little attention has been given as to how—through the consultant’s conscious and deliberate use of metaphors—the consultation process itself can be enhanced. Furthermore, outside of the linguistic literature, the underlying structure of metaphors has seldom been addressed. Consequently, the issue of how metaphors can be constructed in an active manner, using a specific set of principles, and then applied to the consultation situation at hand has yet to be examined. The goal of this chapter is to explore the effective use of metaphors during the consultation session as a way of challenging the consultee and introducing the consultant’s representations. The use of metaphors is thereby expected to increase the consultee’s repertoire of choices in working with the client that will, in turn, help the consultee overcome the difficulties with the client.
