Family Myth, Metaphor and the Metaphoric Object in Therapy

Abstract

Summary In this paper, case illustrations are used to describe how metaphoric objects can be used in therapy to (1) enter into families' shared myths, (2) transmit messages that transcend the literal contents of a family's narrative and bring to light missing elements of the essential plot, and (3) introduce new or previously fragmented information which can lead to new or revised family myths and accompanying interactional behaviors.