In what way is A not like B

[Maarten Aalberse]

Metaphors highlight, enliven, summarize, delete, etc., I’d say.

The deletion-aspect can lead to blind spots, that probably by asking more clean questions become “perceiving spots”, or maybe spots that have been in the dark, hidden, too distant to explore, etc.

I wonder though, if it also can be helpful (for reducing the potential handicap of such deletions) and clean to ask after some exploration of

“I feel threatened by a bunch of dragons ”:

“And could there a way in which you don't feel threatened by a bunch of dragons?”, or somesuch?

Curiously,
Maarten

[phil]

The deletion-aspect can lead to blind spots, that probably by asking more clean questions become “perceiving spots”, or maybe spots that have been in the dark, hidden, too distant to explore, etc.

That's a nice metaphor for what can happen when 'blind spots' are explored cleanly.

I wonder though, if it also can be helpful (for reducing the potential handicap of such deletions) and clean to ask after some exploration of

“I feel threatened by a bunch of dragons ”:

“And could there [be] a way in which you don't feel threatened by a bunch of dragons?”, or somesuch?


I think in a process like NLP, for example, that might be an approach to take.

However, what are we presupposing if we follow your suggestion (I realise you are hypothesising)? We presuppose that being threatened is a thing to be avoided. Consider this:

First, if there is really danger around, would you prefer to be threatened and so be aware of it or to not be threatened and so remain unaware of the danger?

Second, perhaps where the client is in their metaphor landscape (feeling threatened by dragons) is exactly where they need to be to learn something the 'dragons' (AKA some aspect of the client's psyche) are trying to communicate. Helping them avoid the threat may be rescuing them.

IMO it's not for the therapist/coach to decide what is desirable for the client, however much the latter might apparently like that! In Clean we are not trying to change the client, rather working for them to self-model, to explore their own world and discover insights for themselves that they can use to inform their own next direction, their own desired outcome.

In your example, after developing the metaphors ('bunch', 'threatened', 'dragons' for example), I would be more likely to ask one of the following:

'And when you feel threatened, what would you like to have happen?" then develop a desired outcome
"And when you feel threatened, where do you feel threatened?" then get a metaphor for the feeling.
"And when you feel threatened by a bunch of dragons, what would dragons like to have happen?" and explore that desired outcome, which belongs to the client of course.
Of course, if these are real dragons, forget what I have written above... for goodness' sake, don your armour, mount your charger and rescue the client!

Phil

[Penny Tompkins]

Phil's reply to Maarten was valuable with great suggestions.

I think if the client could answer your proposed question, chances are they wouldn't be sitting in front of you. Any answer they do give is likely to be a surface remedy or guess.

In my experience it is worth the time to develop a landscape/context and see what change emerges — usually in a surprising way (to you and them) — rather then trying to force the pace which such a question.

Penny

[JamesLawley]

It's a great question Maarten because it goes straight to the heart of the 'clean' philospohy.

My conceren about the question:



“I feel threatened by a bunch of dragons ”:

“And could there a way in which you don't feel threatened by a bunch of dragons?”,

is the potential meta-message the client may take from it.

I think there is a good chance some clients would take this to mean that there was something wrong or bad about them feeling threatened by dragons — why else would you immediately attempt to take their attention away from it?

In a clean approach we want to honour the client's experience — whatever it is. As a general rule, a good place to start any change process is by the client acknowledging their own experience. They may not like it but it is what it is.

On another point, have you considered that the ability of metaphors to create blind spots or to delete information is not always a "handicap", sometimes it is their most valuable function ...

Best, James