Metaphors for Aches and Pains
by Marian Way in Health

At a recent practice group meeting, our topic was 'Physical Symptoms'. We wanted to discover whether developing metaphors for physical symptoms using Clean Language would make any difference to the symptoms.
Participants worked in pairs to develop metaphors for their symptoms, such as:
- My bad neck is like… two rough pebbles grinding together, with bits chipping off
- My itchy finger is like… the hairs at the top screaming, and something yellow, stale and stagnant
- My sore hands are like… a ball of energy
- My toothache is like ... a blocked drain, blocked with a lump of custard
- My craving is like… a cave
- My back problem is like… having an oily rag tied around my spine
Next, everyone asked: “And what would that [symptom] like to have happen?” and developed answers to that question, too. Many changes were noted by the end of the session. For example:
- Rough pebbles wanted liquid and this meant movement. This person hadn’t been moving her neck and now realised that that was what was needed. She has since reported that her neck is feeling better.
- The itchy finger needed to be in a circuit with the heart and to be in the fresh air. This person had had the itchy finger for a while, but had not paid it any attention before, except to scratch it and wish it gone.
- The person with sore hands / ball of energy did lots of her processing non verbally and at the end of the session said she was now ready to imagine herself riding (showjumping and horse racing) in order for her to paint pictures of horse riding. She said it was like healing her own hands.
- The blocked drain wanted to be unblocked, and when the pressure built up, the unblocking would happen, and the custard would gurgle down the drain - but then the pressure would build up all over again. The whole thing was like a volcano and a needle with a sharp point was needed. This was ‘work in progress’ and the processing of this continued after the session. After a couple of days the participant reported that her toothache, which had been dire for some time had now disappeared!
- The craving cave changed into something that could be taken out of the body and placed on the head. This will allow the person to think.
- The oily rag changed into a pristine white flat rag - the kind a surgeon might use. This person will visualise this rag before she sits down at her computer.
If you would like to learn how to develop people's idiosynratic metaphors using Clean Language, you can join our Clean Language: Core Skills training or our Clean Coach Certification Programme. If you would like us to work with your metaphors, or you would like to chat about other possibilities, you can book a chat with Marian.
Please note if you try working with physical symptoms, that some symptoms may not be ready to change and may need investigation by a doctor or dentist.
About Marian Way
A highly skilled facilitator and trainer, Marian, who founded Clean Learning in 2001, has developed and delivered training across the world. She is the author of Clean Approaches for Coaches, co-author, with James Lawley, of Insights in Space and co-author, with Caitlin Walker, of So you want to be… #DramaFree.
Marian is an expert Clean facilitator, an adept modeller, a programme writer and an inspirational trainer. She has a natural ability to model existing structures, find the connections between them and design new ways for people to learn. Marian was a leading innovator within the Weight Watchers organisation, which included developing the “points” strategy, a local idea that went on to become a global innovation. She is a director of both Clean Learning and Training Attention CIC, world leaders in clean applications for corporate, educational and community development. She designs our programmes and workbooks, leads workshops and teaches on all our courses. She’s trained people in Great Britain, Russia, Sweden, Germany, Australia, Japan and the USA. Marian is also a recognised Clean Assessor.
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