ABSTRACT
The metaphorical propositions elicited from cultural schemas embedded in Middle Eastern proverbs reveal that in the society, for instance, a horse is associated with words like ‘precious,’ ‘master,’ ‘valuable,’ ‘friend,’ ‘hardworking,’ and ‘unpredictable danger.’ Some Middle Eastern idioms, proverbs, epithets, aphorisms, and sayings may be used to demonstrate how rational demandingness can be addressed. ‘Wise old sayings’ help to maintain a therapeutic relationship with the client, because the words of powerful men and women are viewed as very valuable in Middle Eastern and Asian cultures. From an rational emotive behavior therapy point of view the following Middle Eastern ‘wise old sayings’ examples can be used to replace irrational demandingness beliefs or, from a cognitive behavior therapy point of view, ‘absolute thinking’ cognitive distortions. On the contrary, there are many proverbs with irrational expressions and cognitive distortions. The proverbs ahead will not provoke irrational beliefs and cognitive distortion; on the contrary, they will help clients deal with dysfunctional thoughts.
