Healing with Stories

George W. Burns is an internationally recognized clinical psychologist, author, and therapist trainer. He is Director of the Milton H. Erickson Institute of Western Australia and The Hypnotherapy Centre of Western Australia. He has lectured around the world and is an adjunct senior lecturer at Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia. He has published several books, including 101 Healing Stories and 101 Healing Stories for Kids and Teens (both from Wiley).

"This is another unique book brought to us by Australian George Burns. This is an excellent book for new and advanced therapists; it is another one of Georges' books that you will have to order for your own shelves, as I won't be lending you mine." (Psychotherapy in Australia, August 2008) "The reader will find a wealth of sundry stories in this book, some woven by the therapist, some by the client, and others in collaboration. The boundless urge to tell our stories and those of our clients will, with the help of this book, sooner or later prevail." (PsycCRITIQUES, 7/2/08)

• Acknowledgments xviiIntroduction xixWhat This Book Offers xxThe Contributors xxiThe Contributions xxiiThe Structure of This Book xxiiiFollowing Your Gurus: An Opening Story 1Chapter 1 Metaphor and Therapy: Clarifying Some Confusing Concepts 3George W. BurnsWhat Is Metaphor? 4Why Use Metaphors in Therapy? 4Is Metaphor Therapy or Communication of Therapy? 7What Type of Metaphor Is That? 9Are There Times Not to Use Metaphor? 12References 13Part One IMPROVING MOOD 15Chapter 2 The Healing Is Complete: Outcome- Oriented Experiential Metaphors in a Case of Major Depression 17George W. BurnsContributor’s Story 17Preview the Chapter 18Where to Begin? 19What Did Mary Want from Therapy? 20What Was Useful to Know about Mary? 21What Interventions Were Likely to Help? 22What Was the Long- Term Outcome? 27References 28Chapter 3 An Empty Sadness: Exploring and Transforming Client- Generated Metaphors 30Richard R. KoppContributor’s Story 30Preview the Chapter 31Exploring and Transforming Client- Generated Metaphors 33Metaphor Therapy and Diversity 36“An Empty Sadness”: Case Example #1 37“I’m the One Who Blew Up”: Case Example #2 39Conclusion 42References 42Chapter 4 And This Little Piggy Stayed Home: Playful Metaphors in Treating Childhood Separation Anxiety 44Julie H. LindenContributor’s Story 44Preview the Chapter 45A Clinical Framework 46A Family of Porcupines 48Play and Playful Therapy 49Finding Strengths and Exceptions 50A Doll as Metaphor and Cotherapist 52“Thank You M” 53A Postscript 53References 54Chapter 5 Climbing Anxiety Mountain: Generating Metaphors in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 55Mikaela J. Hildebrandt Lindsay B. Fletcher and Steven C. HayesContributors’ Story 55Preview the Chapter 56Defining the Problem 57The Function of Metaphor in ACT 58The Therapeutic Relationship 59Generating ACT- Consistent Metaphors 60Case Outcome 64References 64Part Two BUILDING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS 65Chapter 6 The Case of Carol: Empowering Decision- Making through Metaphor and Hypnosis 67Michael D. YapkoContributor’s Story 67Preview the Chapter 68The Context of the Session 69Interviewing Carol: Determining Goals and Assessing Resources 69Why Use Metaphor in Carol’s Case? 70General Points about Hypnosis Indirect Suggestion and Metaphor 70Identifying Goals of Treatment 72Carol’s Resources 73Hypnosis and Delivering the Metaphor to Carol 74Session Follow- Up 76Final Comments 77References 78Chapter 7 The Woman Who Wanted to Lie on the Floor: A Social Constructionist Use of Metaphor in a Tale of Two Clients 79Valerie E. LewisContributor’s Story 79Preview the Chapter 80A Social Constructionist Use of Metaphor 81Reina’s Tale 82Sharing Client Stories 86Margrit’s Message for Reina 87Reina and Margrit’s Message for Us 88Chapter 8 Trekking to Happiness—No Sherpa Required: A Utilization Approach to Transcending an Abusive Relationship 89Gregory SmitContributor’s Story 89Preview the Chapter 90Searching for Resources 91Planning the Direction of Treatment 93Defining the Therapeutic and Metaphoric Objectives 94Planning the Steps for a Metaphor Intervention 95Beginning the Trek 96Offering More Than a Metaphor 97Learning from an Experience 98References 99Chapter 9 And the Two Snakes Fought: Storybook Therapy to Help Deal with the Divorce Monster 100Joy NelContributor’s Story 100Preview the Chapter 101Narrative as “Storybook Therapy” 102The Processes of Storybook Therapy 103Listening to the Problem- Saturated Story 103Reauthoring and Strengthening the Preferred Story 106Finding Hope in a Cheeseburger 112References 113Part Three CHANGING PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR 115Chapter 10 Under Fire: Reflection and Metaphor in Narrative Therapy 117Christine PerryContributor’s Story 117Preview the Chapter 118The “Narrative” Metaphor of the Counseling Process 119Reflecting Teams Metaphor and Narrative Therapy 120The Case of Paul 121An Alternative Story 124Implications for Professional Practice 126References 127Chapter 11 The Door Is Open the Bird Can Fly: Merging Therapist and Client Metaphors in Child Therapy 128Joyce C. MillsContributor’s Story 128Preview the Chapter 129Passage One: A Safe Environment 131Joey’s Story: Creating a Safe Environment 131Passage Two: You Gotta Crawl Before You Fly 133Joey’s Story: The Importance of Keys 134Passage Three: A Time of Greatest Change 134Joey’s Story: The Process of Change 135Passage Four: Finding Your Wings 136Joey’s Story: Flying Free 137References 137Chapter 12 Everyone’s Life Is a Story: Guided Metaphor in Changing Global Lifestyle 138Rubin BattinoContributor’s Story 138Preview the Chapter 139Step- by- Step Processes for Guided Metaphor 140The Case of George 142Who Can Benefit from Guided Metaphor? 147Mechanics of Delivery 147References 148Chapter 13 Scared Speechless: Goal- Oriented and Multiple Embedded Metaphors in a Case of Psychogenic Dysphonia 150Carol A. Hicks- LanktonContributor’s Story 150Preview the Chapter 151The Assessment 152The Client’s Resources Strengths and Skills 153A Multiple Embedded Metaphor 156References 162Part Four ENHANCING HEALTH AND WELL- BEING 163Chapter 14 Scareless Ghost Painless Pasta: Kids’ Own Stories as Therapeutic Metaphor 165George W. BurnsContributor’s Story 165Preview the Chapter 166Kids’ Own Healing Stories 169Mr. Peter Pasta Helps Ease the Pain 172References 176Chapter 15 Befriending Your Problems: Metaphor with a Self- Mutilating Young Woman in Transition 178Wendel A. Ray and Jana P. SuttonContributors’ Story 178Preview the Chapter 179The Secret Behind the Secret 181The Nonexpert One- Down Stance 182Effecting Metaphoric Change 183Facilitating a Change of Best Friend 184A Closing Comment 188References 188Chapter 16 Night Night Sleep Tight Don’t Let the Sharks Bite: “What’s Missing?” in Metaphors 190Robert McNeillyContributor’s Story 190Preview the Chapter 191A Personal Initiation into Storytelling 192Creating Expectancy in the Client 193Where Can We Look for a Metaphor? 194Accessing an Individual Client’s Unique Resources 195“What’s Missing?” in Therapy 196Bringing the Learning to Life 197Reflections after the Session 197Conclusion and Invitation 198References 198Chapter 17 The Metaphor That Sang Its Own Sad Song: Therapeutic Storytelling in Pediatric Hospice Care 199Roxanna Erickson KleinContributor’s Story 199Preview the Chapter 200The Homecoming 201Telling Their Own Stories 202The Illness 202Setting Goals 203Relating through Stories 204Strengths within Weakness 205Preparing for Death 205A Companion with a Metaphor 206An Unexpected Song 206An Unintentional Metaphor 208Part Five DEVELOPING LIFE SKILLS 211Chapter 18 Reclaiming Poise after Persecution: Client- Based Cultural Stories in Trauma Therapy 213Angela Ebert and Hasham Al MusawiContributors’ Story 213Preview the Chapter 214A Little of Hasham’s Background 215The Interventions 217Rebuilding Trust 220A Little of Hasham’s Outcome 222This Too Will Pass 223References 223Chapter 19 Of Goths Fairies Dragons and CBT: Joining the Client’s World with an Evidence- Based Metaphor 225George W. BurnsContributor’s Story 225Preview the Chapter 226The Assessment 227The Background 230The Intervention 231The Metaphor Structure 232The Follow- Up 235References 235Chapter 20 That’s Not a Problem: Metaphor with a Disruptive Client in Ericksonian Group Therapy 237Teresa Garcia- SanchezContributor’s Story 237Preview the Chapter 238Why Work in Groups? 239The Structure of Group Sessions 240A Challenging Client 241Not Seeing What Is 242A Puzzling Metaphor 244A Reflection 248References 248Using Your Loaf: A Concluding Story 249Reference 252Resource Section 253Further Reading Resources 253Contributors’ Favorite Metaphor Books 257Index 265