Product reviews for Therapy with Tough Clients

Fans of Milton Erickson and his work with metaphors will very likely love George Gafner's new book, Therapy with Tough Clients: The Use of Indirect and Unconscious Techniques. Even in the early pages, it becomes obvious that the author has mastered the use of metaphors.

Gafner discusses different categories of metaphors as well: darkness, weight, captor, and descent. Additionally he mentions “overused metaphors” as well as misunderstood cultural metaphors. Even before the hypnotic experience he listens to clients' metaphors.

The book threads considerable information on case histories of two clients who had IBS among other problems (Maggie and Charles). He introduces them in the first chapter, with their progress appearing in several other chapters as well; but the author does not limit the book only to Maggie and Charles. One interesting case was how he successfully handled a potentially volatile situation when an angry spouse burst into the middle of her husband's session.
Therapy with Tough Clients is filled with various metaphors; but the author also believes in the value of ego strengthening, devoting an entire chapter emphasizing it. At the same time, he shows his human side by sharing a couple of “ooops” comments to let us know that he also makes mistakes.
George Gafner says, “Therapy is more of an art than science,” and I totally agree. It is obvious that he is a master of the artistic use of metaphors in therapy, and his book is easy to read.