Table 1 Examples of questions from the interview with therapists
Questions about metaphors in general | Questions about specific metaphors |
|---|---|
Do you actively listen to the metaphors patients use? | Some patients say they want to get “tools” in therapy – what do you think this is about? What do you think “tools” represent in therapy? |
How do you explore what patients mean when they use metaphors? | Some patients say that they want to go “deep” or “deeper” in therapy. How do you understand this wish to go “deep”? |
How do you use metaphors in therapy yourself? | Some patients experience depression as a voice or a monster inside them. What do you think the patients mean when they say this? |
Can you give some examples on metaphors that you find useful in therapy? | Some patients say that improvement from depression is like taking a journey from darkness to light. What do you think about that? |
Have you experienced that patients use metaphors you think are unhelpful or harmful – and did you try to change or correct these metaphors? | What do you think the patients mean when they talk about “chemistry” between therapist and patient? |