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Wilfrid Laurier University

Hearing metaphor: A study of clients' use of language in a family therapy situation

Abstract

dc:description

Metaphor is defined as a central function of language by which different realms of experience are conjoined and which operates at the nexus of internal and social processes. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used in an exploratory study of metaphor use by families in therapy. Significant differences were found in quantity of metaphor use along gender and generational axes. Content analysis also identified some suggestive differences with respect to issues of agency and imagery along lines of gender and parenting status. Categories nominated from the identified metaphors are also suggestive of the differential dilemmas faced by the clients. The study indicates that attending to clients‘ metaphors would be therapeutically useful and that further research in this area would be worthwhile.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Social Work
Year dc:date
1994

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Whynot, Christopher Allen
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Dennis Miehls

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/151

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Wilfrid Laurier University
Base URL
scholars.wlu.ca/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-08-21
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Whynot, Christopher Allen. Hearing metaphor: A study of clients' use of language in a family therapy situation. 1994. https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/151