How Does It Work?

SYMBOLIC MODELING

Using embodied metaphors to foster profound personal change

How Does It Work?

    All of us are natural metaphor makers.

    Some of these metaphors are obvious:
            "I feel like I'm hitting my head against a brick wall!"
            "I feel like I'm drowning in work!"
            "I feel free as a breeze."

    Some of our metaphors are less obvious:
            "I have to push myself to finish my assignments."
            "I want to feel connected again to my spouse."

    Each of these metaphors suggest an image. The Symbolic Modeling facilitator guides the client through a five step process to examine his images with a systematic series of questions, using almost exclusively the client's exact words. This isn't a conversation, but the client's exploration of the his/her internal world. The client discovers s/he knows a lot about the images: their color, size, shape, location, and, ultimately, what s/he wants to have happen to them--what changes are necessary.

    Studies of the brain suggest that experiences and emotions may be stored in the right hemisphere of the brain in the form of images and symbols. These may not be readily accessible to the left hemisphere, center of our verbal and problem-solving capabilities. It appears that Symbolic Modeling brings what is stored in the right hemisphere, often subconsciously, into the left hemisphere, into words and consciousness. No longer inaccessible, you can now work with the symbols to address patterns, beliefs, emotions, etc.

Insight into the sources and meanings of these metaphors does not seem to be necessary for a healing impact. The mind appears to know how to help itself if we just connect the parts. Meanwhile, you, the client, can stay within the safety of uninterpreted metaphors and images

To do this, we use Symbolic Modeling, which has three basic components:

Metaphors: these metaphors aren’t created the way you might pick one when writing a poem; instead, you experience them as they already exist in your mind, and you are now discovering them. The images which make up your metaphors relate to one another, and it is in these relationships that the patterns of your behavior, feelings and thoughts are mirrored.

Clean Language: The Symbolic Modeling facilitator uses a unique sentence structure, based on your exact words, to ask questions about the images you describe. The facilitator focuses your attention on their details and their relationships with one another. You’ll notice the facilitator’s speech does not sound like ordinary conversation; it is grammatically awkward and very sparse. This encourages you not to engage cognitively or conversationally with the facilitator. S/he is there to guide your exploration of your metaphors, not to interpret their meanings or add observations or determine what you should do with them. This is very much a client-centered process.

        Modeling: Together, the facilitator and you are working on developing a full picture of your Metaphor Landscape. Through a series of questions, and possibly over a number of sessions, you will collect details about your metaphors by and through which you have stored your experiences and responses to those experiences.

    Think of building a model town for a train garden. It is full of objects which serve a variety of purposes. You might have a train, running on a track, which may split in places. The tracks may go by a bank, a school house, and homes. There may be switch controls which regulate the train’s going and coming. About each of these, there will be added details and purposes. Similarly, you and your facilitator are creating a model of your internal metaphors to explore.

    In a surprisingly emotional and visceral way, you’ll discover there are things you want to change with these images, and your facilitator will help guide you through discovering how that can happen. As changes occur with your metaphors, profound shifts are also felt emotionally, as your mind seems to work through old blocks and create new pathways.

    A Symbolic Modeling session is truly a mind/body experience. It can be felt in the body ... in profound and surprising ways.