Practice using metaphors to achieve therapeutic ends. Metaphor is essentially the use of symbolic events or items to symbolize something else. Many believe that the Wizard of Oz was a metaphor for the United States’ debate about going off the gold standard in the 1900’s. Kafka’s Metamorphosis is said to be a metaphor for the denial of self engendered by conformity to a harsh capitalist society. In coaching and psychotherapy, healing metaphors can bypass conscious filters and rally unconscious resources. Metaphors such as those in Little Annie’s Stories can be used to help children navigate developmental challenges and fears.

Step 1: Choose a situation to which you can apply a healing metaphor. #

Think of a situation in your own or someone else’s life that is creating fear or difficulty adjusting. It can be an adult or a child.

Step 2: Determine what is essential for healing. #

Jot down a core idea that would be healing or useful in this situation. Jot down some ideas that support it.

Step 3: Create your metaphor as a situation in a story. #

Think of a story situation that resembles this but does not directly state it. For example, a child who is afraid of the dark could be transformed into a story about a prince who must get to the castle in order to become the next king, but he must pass through a dark forest that he is sure is full of goblins and witches.

Step 4: Complete the metaphor for healing. #

Find a way to propel the story and reach a resolution with healing meaning. For example, you could enthrall your child with the prince’s travels through the dark forest, with his certainty that the sounds he is hearing mean he is about to be eaten by goblins or turned into a toad by witches. He could have had close calls with things that turned out to be birds and rabbits. (The metaphor states that these fears aren’t really fears of bad things; in fact, they might be cute or harmless).

Step 5: Act out the story. #

Practice telling the story until it feels fairly smooth.

Step 6: Tell the story. #

Tell the story to the person who needs to hear it.

Step 7: Test. #

Notice if it has a positive impact on the person regarding the situation that they were having trouble with.