Metaphors in Mind: Transformation through Symbolic Modelling [Paperback]

James Lawley (Author), Penny Tompkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2000

Describes how to give individuals an opportunity to discover how their symbolic perceptions are organized, what needs to happen for these to change, and how they can develop as a result.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A significant work and for me, the essence of what NLP is really about. I do recommend this book. -- Sue Knight, author of "NLP Solutions"

A tour de force, a magnificent contribution to the study of the structure of subjectivity, therapy and personal change. -- NLP World, November 2000

Be prepared for this book to launch you on a personal journal of change and development. -- David Grove, author of Resolving Traumatic Memories

Presents deep perspectives about helping people learn how to facilitate their own creativity in solving their own problems. Well done! -- Ernest Rossi, Ph.D., author of "Psychobiology of Mind-Body Healing

From the Inside Flap

Caroline Myss, Ph.D., best selling author of Anatomy of the Spirit and Why People Don't Heal says:

"Tompkins and Lawley have written a book that provides people with a tool for profound analysis and insight. The use of Metaphors as a means of evaluating how you order your world, your relationships, your occupation, and interpret the experiences of your life is invaluable. This book should be read by everyone who has an interest in expanding their awareness of why they say the things they do, and discovering how the 'contents' of their lives are sources of empowerment."

Ernest Rossi, Ph.D. author of Dreams, Consciousness & Spirit, The Symptom Path to Enlightenment and The Psychobiology of Mind-Body Healing says:

"Metaphors in Mind presents a broad integration of deep perspectives about helping people learn how to facilitate their own creativity in solving their own problems in their own way. Well done!"

David Grove, MS. author of Resolving Traumatic Memories says:

"I have tremendous admiration for the innovative work they have developed ... I congratulate Penny and James on completing this valuable book ... a richly stimulating text that gently escorts the reader on a captivating journey. Be prepared for this book to launch you on a personal journey of change and development. The parade of thought provoking concepts, stories and challenges contained within will provide a reliable travelling companion to accompany you along the way."

Charles Faulkner, author of NLP - The New Technology of Achievement, says:

"It is a closely reasoned, well-referenced, and articulate contribution to therapeutic practice, the understanding of metaphor, and the importance of applied theory."

Michael Hall, Ph.D. author of Meta-States, The Secrets of Magic, Mind-Lines and many other books, says:

"James Lawley and Penny Tompkins have provided an excellent presentation of working with metaphors in order to model human experience. What I really like about this new work is their research in Cognitive Linguistic, Cognitive Psychology and self-organization theory."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Developing Company Press (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0953875105
• ISBN-13: 978-0953875108
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #415,456 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Importance of Metaphors, February 28, 2002

By 

J. Yero (Hamilton, MT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Metaphors in Mind: Transformation through Symbolic Modelling (Paperback)

The previous reviewers spoke of the value of this book for therapists and mental health professionals. However, Metaphors in Mind will also provide the interested layman with a fascinating view into the way people create their "realities." The explanations are clear and any special vocabulary is well defined. The annotated transcripts provide powerful examples of the way metaphors shape people's perceptions. I would highly recommend Metaphors in Mind to anyone interested in the intriguing landscape of the human mind.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Groundbreaking development in human changework, February 4, 2002

By 

Philip Harland - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Metaphors in Mind: Transformation through Symbolic Modelling (Paperback)

This is a definitive book about the most important development in human psychology since Freud. Lawley and Tompkins have written an accessible, insightful account of a new way of working with verbal and nonverbal language that will not only appeal to the ordinary reader but to therapists, psychologists, educators, trainers, doctors, managers and consultants - indeed anyone interested in facilitating human change. Read this book and I guarantee you will never use language the same way again.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Major Work In Psychology And Psychotherapy, January 27, 2002

By 

Paul Burns, Psychotherapist (Wembley Park, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Metaphors in Mind: Transformation through Symbolic Modelling (Paperback)

I believe this book marks a significant advance in psychology and therapy. David Grove is a genius. For me, he is up there with Freud, Jung and Milton Erickson. And while anyone who experiences David at work can see he is doing something very different with his clients, understanding that something has not been easy until the arrival of "Metaphors in Mind". The authors have had access to David and have made his work accessible.

Not many serious books are as well written as this one. Penny & James have managed to make the chapters largely self-contained. Chapters begin with an outline of what will be covered, then the details and then a useful summary. There is no mystification. It is obvious the authors want people to have a clear understanding. The book is well referenced, has a useful index and also contains three annotated transcripts of symbolic modelling at work with clients.

The only limitation is that it is a book. Symbolic Modelling also pays attention to body language, "line of sight" (where people look as they think) and the way that words are said. And David Grove has developed a style of therapy that is equally rich in language and what goes with language. I hope audio and videotapes are the next project for Penny and James or that David will produce taped copies of his more recent work.