The syllabus for my Psychology of Metaphor course is below. Click here for more details on the Books and Courses page.
Metaphors form the foundation of our thinking in everyday life. They are the primary tools for personal growth and social change.
In this course, our first task is to become conscious of how we use metaphor and the ways in which metaphorical thinking shapes our everyday realities. Then we move to a deeper level of analysis–investigating the rich ways in which metaphorical images and “seeing life as a poet” enriches and enhances our relationship to ourselves, other people, and the world around us. In ancient Greek, the word metaphor means “a transformer.”
Metaphor allows us to see at a deeper level of understanding, enabling us to see possibilities and potentials that we wouldn’t ordinarily see.
Unit 1: METAPHOR IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Unit 2: METAPHOR AS AN AESTHETIC WORLD
Unit 3: METAPHOR AS CREATIVE PROCESS
Unit 4: METAPHOR AND THE NATURAL WORLD
Unit 5: THE METAPHORIC MIND
Unit 6: METAPHOR IN TEACHING, RESEARCH AND COUNSELING
You can purchase the license to teach this course to your own adult students, clients, or community. It includes handouts, class activities, references, and supplemental resources.
By the way, if you’re interested in incorporating metaphor into your current practice or helping others do that, you will not find this material anywhere else. Much of it is based on writings that are out-of-print and inaccessible to the general public. I’ve taught versions of this course at both Pacifica Graduate Institute and Meridian University.