Psychotherapy's Structural Metaphors

collection agent:metaphorex-prospector (2026) · source

Survey of metaphors from psychotherapy that structure clinical theory, therapeutic practice, and popular understanding of mental health. Covers concepts from person-centered therapy (Rogers), trauma therapy (van der Kolk, Siegel, Levine), experiential therapy (Gendlin), ACT (Hayes), narrative therapy (White, Epston), and relational psychoanalysis.

Entries (16)

• Ball in a Pool — metaphor
• Choice Point — mental-model
• Cognitive Defusion — mental-model
• Double Listening — pattern
• Dropping the Anchor — metaphor
• Felt Sense — mental-model
• Holding Space — metaphor
• Mind as a Radio — metaphor
• Scaffolding in Therapy — metaphor
• The Absent but Implicit — pattern
• The Body Keeps the Score — metaphor
• Therapeutic Alliance — metaphor
• Tug of War with a Monster — metaphor
• Unconditional Positive Regard — mental-model
• Values Compass — metaphor
• Window of Tolerance — metaphor