Making Therapy More Relatable: The Impact of Analogies in Psychotherapy

In psychotherapy, clear communication is of utmost importance. As therapy often involves delving into complex emotions and abstract psychological concepts, one valuable tool therapists can use to make these ideas more accessible is analogies. Analogies serve as bridges between the unfamiliar and the familiar, offering clients an intuitive way to understand and process their thoughts and feelings. They make complex psychological concepts more relatable and tailor therapy to the client’s individual needs, both of which can lead to better insight, emotional connection, and ultimately, healing.

Here are a few ways analogies are used in therapy and examples that illustrate their effectiveness:

1. Simplifying Complex Concepts

“I don’t understand what I’m supposed to learn through therapy.” Analogies help break down complicated psychological concepts into easily digestible ideas, making them more accessible to clients.

• “Healing from traumatic situations is sometimes like opening a china cabinet after an earthquake. Sure, some dishes might fall and break, but once you clean up the mess, you can make use of whatever dishware remains, and now have a fully functional china cabinet that you can fill with items that can bring you joy. Alternatively, if you keep the cabinet closed for fear of what might fall if you open it, you’ll be stuck with a piece of useless furniture in your home, filled with unusable dishware.”
  • This analogy helps clients understand the importance of exploring their difficult moments despite temporary emotional distress, as facing and processing the pain ultimately leads to healing and growth, whereas avoiding them can result in stagnation and unaddressed emotional baggage.

2. Building Trust and Strengthening the Therapeutic Alliance

“My Los Angeles therapist uses jargon and talks at me.” Sharing analogies that display a common language between the therapist and client and resonate with the client’s experiences can help build a sense of shared understanding, deepen the connection, foster collaboration, and strengthen the therapeutic alliance.

• “Think of me as a mechanic you can call when you’re on the road. I might not always be physically present, but I can guide you through the tools to use if your engine breaks down while you’re driving. With time and practice, you’ll discover which tools work best for your specific situations. Eventually, you’ll only need to call your mechanic if your car starts grumbling for new reasons and you want a review of tools!”
  • This analogy sets a collaborative tone, emphasizing partnership and growth in therapy while helping the client feel supported and empowered.

3. Creating Emotional Resonance and Reducing Emotional Overwhelm

“No one can handle my emotions. I’m too much for people.” Analogies can create emotional resonance that can help clients connect with, understand, and accept their emotions and experiences.

• “Emotions can be like the weather. Just because rain clouds cover the sun, it doesn’t mean the clouds will be there forever. Just like you’d wait for the rain and clouds to go away, it’s possible to ride through the intensity of your negative emotions until they taper out and pass.”
  • This analogy normalizes fluctuating emotions and encourages emotional acceptance.

4. Facilitating Cognitive Reframing

“People will never understand me. Nobody likes me.” Sometimes, clients get stuck in negative thought patterns. Analogies are great for helping them see their situation in a new light, offering a fresh perspective.

• “Imagine you’re in a garden filled with all sorts of plants. If you keep paying attention to the weeds, or your negative thoughts, you’ll have a lot of trouble noticing the beauty of all the flowers, or the positive aspects of the reality surrounding you.”
  • This analogy can encourage clients to focus on nurturing positive thoughts rather than ruminating over negative ones.

5. Encouraging Insight and Problem Solving

“Everyone else does it better than me. I’m not normal.” Analogies can spark moments of clarity, helping clients gain new insights or identify creative solutions to their challenges.

• “Pretend you’re a game character trying to beat the boss. If your gear is still at a Level 5, can you realistically expect yourself to beat the Level 20 boss?”
  • This analogy helps the client recognize their unrealistic expectations of themselves and adjust their goals to their current capabilities in an effort to improve their chances of success and avoid disappointment. 

More than just clever comparisons, analogies are vital tools that facilitate understanding, foster emotional growth, and support healing in therapy. They help break down complex emotions and situations, transforming them into something more relatable and actionable. By using analogies that resonate with each client’s unique experience, therapists can help create a space where clients feel understood, supported, and empowered to take steps toward healing, navigating their challenges with clarity and hope. So, whether it’s comparing emotions to weather patterns or using gaming references to help clients gain insight, get creative with your analogies!

Silva Depanian is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC#121864) and Certified Anger Management Counselor at Avedian Counseling Center, providing services through telehealth and in Glendale. She specializes in anger management, chronic pain management, anxiety, and codependent relationships, assisting individuals and groups who seek a more fulfilling quality of life. Silva’s mission is to help clients achieve their goals using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness techniques, promoting change through encouraging boundary setting and fostering healthy communication. Whether in individual sessions or group settings, Silva is here to listen and collaborate with clients on their journey toward balance and happiness.