Metaphor in psychotherapy reconsidered: a hermeneutic approach

This investigation was undertaken to reconsider the role of figurative language in psychotherapy. Previous research had initially suggested that figurative language, or metaphor, enhances insight in psychotherapy, assists in problem-setting and problem-solving in therapy, and explicates significant themes in therapy sessions. Later studies, however, failed to support these claims.

The present investigation attempted to determine the appropriateness an adequacy of a hermeneutic approach in considering the role of metaphor. A six step procedure was developed based on Shell's (1986) hermeneutic analysis.

Phase I of this investigation included analyzing a session of Gestalt, Client-centered. Existential and Psychoanalytic therapy. Phase II included analyzing five sessions from a 25 session Psychoanalytictheapy case.

Results indicated that figurative language played a significant role in sessions where the dialogue included attempts to identify the multiple meanings of the interaction. Instances of figurative language functioned to identify various aspects of conflicts, and to encapsulate multiple levels of such conflicts.Novel figures were found to encapsulate whole conflicts were frozen figures most often worked to clarify single aspects of conflicts.