Figurative speech plays two distinct roles in clinical psychology: It serves as a useful clinical tool and guides clinicians’ conceptualizations of presenting problems and subsequent interventions (see Leary 1990, for a discussion of metaphor in the history of psychology). Given its utility it is not surprising that metaphors, allegories, similes, analogies, adages, and maxims are found across therapeutic interventions (Blenkiron, 2005; Eynon, 2002; Lyddon, Clay, & Sparks, 2001; Otto, 2000). The current chapter focuses on the functions of figurative speech that are especially related to acceptance- and mindfulness-based approaches. We are emphasizing on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT, said as one word, not initials; Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 1999) both because we know it well and because it seems to raise the key issues in this area that apply to mindfulness approaches more generally.
All instruction is but a finger pointing to the moon. He whose gaze is fixed upon the pointer will never see beyond.
Buddhist Allegory
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Varra, A.A., Drossel, C., Hayes, S.C. (2009). The Use of Metaphor to Establish Acceptance and Mindfulness. In: Didonna, F. (eds) Clinical Handbook of Mindfulness. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09593-6_8
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