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What are metaphors and why do we use them? Metaphors consist of stories,
analogies, jokes, poems and metaphorical imagery. We use them to provide a
gentle and indirect way to give suggestions, to reach the unconscious and
to by-pass resistance. They can engage the listener who can utilize anything
that is meaningful from the metaphors.
Hypnotic Metaphors
What's Cookin?
The Weed Garden
The Tool Box
Hypnotic metaphors developed by Robert Kupferman, LCSW
For clients who have difficulty:
Switching from negative to positive schemas
…And you can imagine that you have the most powerful spam blocker, allowing you to keep out all intrusive messages and toxic thoughts…and you can be assured that all your important thoughts and documents are safely backed-up and stored in secure memory for easy retrieval.
Letting go for those who are stuck.
As you efficiently, competently control aircraft movements at (name of client) airport, you know the importance of ensuring the departing flights leave their gates on time to make room for arriving flights ready to land…arrivals always follow departures… …or… … (Pacing clients breathe)… breathing deep and breathing slow (2x)…breathing in and breathing out (2x)…breathing in what you need and breathing out what you no longer need (2x)... breathing in (name client's specific need) and breathing out (name client's negative cognition, habit, phobia etc.)…it's (2x)...as easy as breathing in and breathing out (2x)… …or… …Remembering so well how that fear was easily replaced by the exhilaration of finally riding your bike so confidently without those training wheels… …
Controlling or moderating dosing i.e.: binging.
First identify where client has control, and then apply to
target issue. The following example I used with client whose issue was binge
eating and his control was bicycling.
You have developed by now, I am sure, the skill to pump just the right amount
of air in to your tires for the perfect ride. You can sense very naturally
what is too little or too much.
Relaxing; insomnia
As you sit here, in this chair, so comfortably relaxed, you
might consider how comfortably relaxed is your cell phone (self-home) sitting
in its cradle patiently recharging, re-nourishing, safe from outside interference
so it will once again be able to re-call, re-ceive and re-joice…taking whatever
time it needs to be ready…
Low self-esteem.
As you most likely are aware, at the miraculous time of conception millions of tiny sperm cells are competing like so many fish to reach the perfect egg, only one sperm gets to be the winner…that's you at the very moment you became you…a winner…
Submitted April 23, 2005
I created this metaphor originally for an anxious client who had difficulties making decisions. In exploring areas in which he felt relaxed, he told me he liked to cook. I have since used this in a variety of different ways, adapting it as necessary. Like any good recipe for success, make it your own, utilizing the ingredients presented by your client.
Basic recipe for the metaphor:
You are invited to challenge
yourself in a new way.
You are the Chef. The choices are
all yours.
You can use one of your old recipes,
and give it a new twist
Or serve up something entirely new.
You are the Chef. You can
take a fresh look. It is your prerogative to experiment. You are in the safety
of your own kitchen. You are creating something new. Tastes change.
"Chacun a son gout". To each his
own.
You know what it is that
you want to accomplish.
You know what you want the outcome
to be.
First think about the ingredient.
Weigh them out
Familiarize yourself with each step
you will take
Timing will be important
Decide when each ingredient will be added.
Sift through.
You'll need a pinch of this; a dollop
of that.
Take your time. Be aware of what floats to the top
Keep the right balance.
Mix well
Allow some things to gel
Allow others to be on
the back burner until you are ready for them.
Some things need to simmer
No need for stewing or for things half-baked
As some things require
stirring up, they need not be strained. Only you know the perfect blend
Bon Appetit.
Karen Sands, LCSW, has a private practice on the Upper Westside of Manhattan. She can provide an audiotape of the Hypnotherapy script specifically made for a client during session. Ms Sands can work in conjunction with a client's ongoing psychotherapist, and also has a psychotherapy practice.
Submitted April 4, 2004
I had been working with a young woman for a few years, who would go through periodic depressions and long moments of self-doubt and low self-esteem. She did not like to talk much during the sessions. Rather, she found that she experienced greater healing on the deeper level of trancework. One day, she came to her session stating that she was no better than an undesirable weed. After she went into a deep trance, I began to talk about weeds and tried to reframe her experience. I told her that weeds are really wildflowers. They have many qualities that are not always appreciated at first. They are tenacious and hardy, and can grow in the most difficult situations. They find a way of thriving in areas where other more delicate plants could not. Many have roots that take hold deeply in the soil, allowing them to find a secure foot hold. There are many different kinds of weeds. Some, like dandelions, cover a field with bright yellow flowers. Others have delicate lavender flowers which bloom all summer. There are some weeds that look like strawberries and spread their small yellow flowers and red berries along the ground. Weeds have so much persistence. They grow and thrive in so many different kinds of situations. They are lovely, each in their own way. I asked if she ever noticed the wildflowers that grow along some highways. There may be people who do not see the beauty in them. But there are many who appreciate and cherish these lovely flowers that beautify the land. Weeds are strong, hardy, lovely each in their own way, and they know how to thrive in so many different kinds of terrain. A weed garden is really a wildflower garden...
Submitted 1/20/04
Brigitte Lifschitz, LCSW
NYSEPH President
"C." came to me for hypnosis after having suffered from chronic depression and periodic major depressive episodes over the past 11 years. After trying every anti-depressive and anti-anxiety medication on the market, with no positive results, he was at his wit's end. "C" had never experienced hypnosis before, and did not feel at ease closing his eyes, so the major part of my hypnotic work with him was through the use Ericksonian conversational trance. One day, I used the metaphor of the toolbox, which he took to right away. Ever since then, the "toolbox" has been part of our mutual language at almost every session.
"Everyone has a toolbox that he is born with...There are tools that you begin to use right away...as a young child...and there are other tools that you learn to use as you get older. When you are born and grow up with your family...the toolbox is filled with all kinds of tools that are given to you by your parents and that you inherit from your grandparents and great grandparents. Some of these tools are very useful and you want to keep them sharp and handy...but there are others that are rusty and outdated... You have been discovering that these rusty and outdated tools don't work very well for you...these are the ones which you can choose to discard because they are not useful and take up space in your toolbox.
As you move forward in your life, you can discover that there
are new, more useful tools... more powerful tools...that you can place in
your toolbox...as you let go of the ones you no longer need nor want to keep...
You can also let go of the ones that may cause you injury...You can discard
the tools that no longer work for you.
As you create more space inside your toolbox, you can discover tools that
you didn't even know existed... and add new and much more useful ones...learning
to use them well...keeping them sharp and honed...becoming more and more comfortable
with new ways of doing things...with your new tools...your sharpened tools...You
can begin to experience more and more confidence in your ability to use these
tools well...whenever they are needed... You can begin to feel more and more
comfortable and confident in your new skills...as you use them every day in
all kinds of ways...and you can discover how good it makes you feel to have
all these useful tools to choose from...whenever you need them...."
Submitted 3/11/03 by:
Brigitte E.Lifschitz, LCSW
NYSEPH President