Metaphors in MindJames Lawley & Penny Tompkins, The Developing Company Press, UK, 2005Reviewed by admin Mon 24 Nov 08 Bob's Rating: Lawley and Tompkins set out to analyse, then chronicle the therapeutic approaches and methods of David J. Grove, creator of Clean Language. Clean language is a simple method of having the client amplify the metaphors they often use when describing a traumatic experience. The key to Clean Language is to use the client’s exact words without inference in a structured process that enables the client to self discover the cause of their problem.Through a process of observing Grove, analysing client transcripts, being clients of Grove’s themselves, and finally binging their own expertise and experience to bear, they have developed a process described as Symbolic Modelling. The authors intimate that the process is equally applicable by a manager or teacher as it is by a therapist – and they are right. The challenge for anyone reading this book who is not a therapist, is to be able to discern the extent to which they need to study the model in order to apply it in their situation. Although I would argue that this is a tough challenge, Lawley and Tompkins have helped by designing the book in a manner that enables one to start at various parts of the book, depending on ones style and need. The book is well written and well laid out. It features many practical examples and includes chapters that takes one through entire client transcripts. As a management writer myself and not a therapist, I think the ordinary manager may struggle to study enough of the model to be able to apply it in day to day situations. Nether-the-less, the underpinning approach of clean language would be an immeasurable help to any practising manager. I know it has certainly changed my own approach when helping people solve their issues. I would think it should be compulsory reading for all therapists and certainly I would highly recommend it to any manager or teacher who is really interested in helping others develop. |
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