Re:Adler and Metaphor

Could we say that Adlerian Psychotherapy ignores the power the the unconscious in the therapeutic relationship. If a metaphor, (which often 'pops' out like a Freudian slip), is not seen as useful in the interaction between the therapist and the client. As a means of highlighting either a negative or positive feelings the metaphor used in this way is useful. In my experience of working with psychotic and non-psychotic clients, the thing that can move the work on is the use of a metaphor, it seems to allow the client a chance to explore difficult and painful feelings, almost at a distance behind the metaphor, this in turn sometimes allows further deeper exploration. At this point there is an opportunity for the client to get closer to their anxiety, after that changes in their behaviour might occur using a more cognitive approach.

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Re:Adler and Metaphor, by Henry Stein, 01/02/02

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