Verbal and Nonverbal Metaphor With Children in Counseling

• Published in: Journal of counseling and development Vol. 86; no. 4; pp. 399 - 411
• Main Authors: Chesley, Gayle L., Gillett, Dodie A., Wagner, William G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 22-09-2008; American Counseling Association; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Behavior; Child Health; Child psychology; Children; Children & youth; Counseling; Counseling Effectiveness; Counseling Techniques; Counselling; Counselor and client; Counselor Role; Counselor-client relations; Counselors; Creative Activities; Elementary Education; Elementary School Students; Elementary Schools; Evaluation; Families & family life; Family Involvement; Family Relationship; Figurative Language; Followup Studies; Grade 1; Language Skills; Linguistics; Mental Health; Mentally disabled children; Metaphor; Narratives; Nonverbal Communication; Practice; Psychological aspects; Psychotherapy; R&D; Research & development; Social aspects; Social Environment; Studies; Therapy; Verbal Communication; Young Children; United States
• ISSN: 0748-9633; 1556-6676
• DOI: 10.1002/j.1556-6678.2008.tb00528.x

The metaphor is typically viewed as a verbal form of expression in traditional talk therapies. However, this definition excludes nonverbal metaphors that children use when they express themselves through play. In this article, the authors examine the use of therapeutic metaphors, both verbal and nonverbal, with children. The roles of the child, counselor, and family in treatment are discussed, along with the benefits and limitations of using therapeutic metaphors with children. The use of quantitative, qualitative, and integrated methods for studying children's use of verbal and nonverbal metaphors in counseling is also examined.