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Using metaphor in psychotherapy:

A practical users guide for therapists

4 hours
4 CE credits
Intermediate, Introductory
Recording available for 6 months
Psychologists, BCBAs, therapists and practitioners

As a therapist, mastering the use of metaphor in your dialogue with clients is key. This is because metaphors are a powerful means of communication and:

  • Can help clients express complex private experiences
  • Often offer insight and a new perspective
  • Can be used for supporting essential processes of change
  • Can function as flexible rules and thereby increase the probability of new, helpful behavioural patterns

This workshop will sharpen your skills in using metaphors, as you learn:

  • How to build co-operation by using metaphors
  • How to craft metaphors in a functional analysis
  • Ways to use metaphors to create observational distance
  • Methods for using metaphors to clarify direction and new strategies

Background to the workshop

 In almost all models of psychotherapy, metaphor is considered an important aspect of communication. Metaphors help clients express complex experiences in a more accessible way. They can provide an alternative perspective, offer insight, and facilitate behavioural change.

For example, the Chinese fingertrap metaphor, powerfully illustrates the way in which avoidance in response to anxiety, counterintuitively exacerbates the problem. The metaphor takes the visceral experience of getting your fingers caught in the children’s toy, and maps it directly onto the action of avoidance (pulling your fingers out of the trap makes perfect sense, as does avoiding anxiety, it’s just that doing so, traps you further). The metaphor brings insight into the hopeless strategy of controlling anxiety in the moment.

But what do we know, from a science perspective, about how metaphors work? And are there any guidelines we can use in everyday clinical work, based on a scientific understanding of metaphor? How can we craft them to work best for the client’s particular problem and specific life experience?

About this workshop

This workshop will provide psychotherapists with a scientific update as to current understanding of the function of metaphor in language generally and how to apply that knowledge in everyday clinical work. It will connect understanding of metaphor use with basic principles of change in psychotherapy, derived primarily from relational frame theory (RFT).

What you will gain from this workshop

During this workshop, participants will gain an understanding of the significance of metaphors as a foundational element in human language. Through the lens of relational frame theory, they will learn how to use metaphors focusing a few basic processes of change. Practical skills will be discussed on applying fundamental behavioural principles when incorporating metaphors into therapy sessions.

In this workshop you will learn

  • How metaphors function as a fundamental building block of human language
  • How metaphor use can support building therapeutic co-operation or alliance
  • How to apply basic behavioural principles in working with metaphor in therapy
  • How to use metaphors in doing a functional analysis
  • How to use metaphor as a central tool for unhooking from dominating private experiences
  • How to use metaphor as a central tool for supporting new behavioural strategies

Who will benefit from this workshop?

This workshop is aimed at therapists, psychologists, counsellors and coaches who use talking interventions to assist people move forward in their lives. The workshop assumes some basic knowledge of ACT and contextual behavioural approaches. You can view our FREE Introduction to ACT to help if this is a new area for you.

Feedback from previous attendees

I highly recommend this workshop. I’m excited to try out new metaphors with my clients!

Jeremy Chisholm – CBT therapist

Niklas gave an excellent workshop. It was practical, thought provoking and extraordinarily useful.

Sue Ironside – clinical psychologist

Thank you – amazing workshop. I’ve learned so much

Pedro Rodriguez – psychiatrist

 

Using metaphor in psychotherapy:
17th Jun 2025
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM (New York time) change timezone
$80.00 (+ VAT if applicable). Early-bird rate valid until 7th Mar 2025 and then the normal price of US$100.00 + VAT will apply.
Student price US$50.00   Select:

FAQs

To find out more, including attendance requirements and how to access your certificate, go to our continuing education information page.

To access this workshop you will need a stable internet connection and a set of smart phone ear buds with built in microphone. Your internet speed should be a minimum of 1.5mbs  DOWNLOAD & UPLOAD. You can check that here at www.speedtest.net

We will have dedicated technicians on hand throughout the entire duration of the workshop. They will be there to help you manage any issues that may come up and get you back in to the workshop again. Also, if you think there may be a problem, be it with your work access or anything else, you can log in early to check if things are working for you, and be prepared. There may of course be technical issues that come up on your end, which will be your responsibility to look after. But these are rare and we have an extra handy troubleshooting guide that comes with tips and tricks to deal with any problems.

Yes! As long as you have access to a web browser and you’re connected to the internet, you will be able to attend. It’s that simple – all you need to do is go to the webpage link, login and you’re set to go. You can join the workshop on any device including your home computer or iPad. You can even join in using your smart phone.

Yes, we have a special portal in the system to allow you to connect with other participants joining via the workshop.

You just need a computer (PC or Mac), laptop or tablet that can access the internet. You need a good broadband speed that would allow you to comfortably stream a movie (such as a video on YouTube).

Yes, a video of the presentation will be available to you for up to 6 months after the workshop is finished.  You’ll be able to go back over any part of the workshop to review or check anything that you missed. You also don’t actually have to attend the live workshop – if you’re not able to make it on the actual date, you can still login afterwards and watch the recorded version.

Yes, you will receive a CPD certificate.

Absolutely. You will be able to ask the presenter questions, just as you would in any workshop. You’ll also have the extra benefit of being able to interact with other colleagues who have also joined the workshop.

It’s super simple. All you need to do is follow a link that you will be provided prior to the course, along with instructions.

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