| Abstract
| - Abstract. The aim of this paper is to facilitate the clinican's ability to perceive metaphoric meaning within the context of a patient's verbal discourse. The importance of verbal communication is noted followed by three comparative definitions of the metaphor. Psychoanalytic literature dealing with possible unconscious significance of the metaphor as well as recommendations regarding its utilization as an interventive strategy are reviewed. Illustrative case vignettes are presented and possible symbolic meanings are discussed. Finally, implications for working with the metaphor in the context of clinical practice, considering a variety of interacting variables, are explored.
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