The Transformative Power of Therapeutic Stories. The Tactical Applications of Metaphor
5 Pages Posted: 17 Sep 2015
Date Written: April 15, 2015
Abstract
According to an old Scottish proverb, a story “is told eye to eye, mind to mind, and heart to heart.” It is this intimacy that distinguishes live storytelling from other forms of communication and entertainment. Storytelling creates a bridge between teller and listener across which authentic communication can take place. And it is within this intimacy that the 'healing' or 'therapeutic' aspects of story lies. As author and storyteller Diane Rooks explains in her article: “Therapeutic stories can change the way we see our lives and the world. Using metaphor and imagery, stories offer healing and growth to everyone -- those who tell them and those who listen. They connect us to each other and help us find meaning as we imagine new possibilities and find hope.” Since time immemorial, stories have helped us discover the meaning in our experiences, offered possible explanations for what we struggle to understand. Stories invite our imaginations and hearts to stretch over the void to reach out to one another and to realize what it is to be human.
Keywords: stories; psychotherapy, communication; resistance, metaphors
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