Counseling is Like...The Use of Analogies in Counseling explores a way of working with students who might be resistant to the concept of counseling. Through the use of analogies, students seem to be leess resistant to the process. Analogies also help us to better understand the point of reference for the student.

The use of analogies is not a new experience for most people. If you listen to everyday speech, you will find most people using analogies to describe a situation, how they feel, or what they want to do.

Analogies are a way of talking about experiences. We each experience life uniquely, so it is not possible to communicate identical interpretations of our experiences. Analogies help define our experiences to others by creating colored pictures. Like a collage, layers of meaning are built from expansion of the analogy in exploration of its likeness and dissimilarities to the experience being described.

In working with students many resistances are bypassed when you tell a story. Analogies develop a kind of story, a word-picture. The counselor can make contact with the student, a primary goal of counseling, through these creative encounters. As you are developing an analogy together, the counseling process unfolds in a way that is less threatening to the student.

Included in the book are some guidelines on when and how to use analogies. There is also an example of how to construct an analogy with a student.

Counseling is Like... presents analogies in six major categories: the art of counseling, counselor growth, student growth, habits and good mental health relationships and endings.

Counseling is Like. . . The use of analogies in counseling by Margaret Ross, Ph.D. is a practical and creative guide for shaping the counseling process. Dr. Ross marvelously provides a wide array of analogies that can be used in the counselor-student exchange. She provides an analogy that can guide many scenarios that a counselor can expect to encounter. For example, Dr. Ross provides analogies that can used for student issues of self-esteem; learning how to make decisions and solving one's problems; helping students to take responsibility for their future in spite of past experiences; students in a state of panic; students seeking a sense of belonging; addressing poor academic work; developing healthy habits; managing relationships; and allowing students to grow at their own pace.

Dr. Ross approaches counseling from a student (client) centered perspective. She uses analogies to ensure the counseling process is not centered on the counselor. Dr. Ross stresses that the counseling process is two-way and that analogies evolve through collaborative creativity between counselor and student. She describes how problems may be common but the personal contexts of these common problems can be quite different and thus require very different intervention strategies. In the process, both the student and counselor grow from their exchanges.

As Dr. Ross points out, each of us hold very different frames of reference that influence how we view events and situations. Counselors need to learn as best they can about the frames of reference of the students who seek counseling and concomitantly be in touch with their own frame of reference. Dr. Ross stresses that it is essential for counselors to be aware of the impact of their opinions of themselves in various situations and other life issues that may influence the counseling interactions. She emphasizes the focus be on students since it is the student’s needs that are to be met.

Dr. Ross provides a no-nonsense, straight forward, informative, and readable resource for dealing with a variety of single and multi-dimensional issues with students. While this resource is intended for counselors, it can serve as a valuable reference for all persons who have frequent interactions with students, including faculty, staff, and administrators. Although others do not assume the same roles as counselors, they do offer counsel and are confronted with student problems/issues that may directly or indirectly influence their interactions with students. And rightly, Dr. Ross reminds us in several ways of how our life perspective can influence our interactions with students.

I highly recommend this jewel of analogies.

This book is a must for any counseling program, for new counselors starting a practice and for seasoned counselors. Counseling is Like discusses and demonstrates the use of analogies in counseling not only as a counseling technique but offers a fresh, insight into counseling. The way the book is written helps the reader understand analogies because the author uses analogies through out the book to give us an in-depth understanding of the counseling relationship and process. We are able to understand the counseling process as related to ordinary, everyday occurrences and some extraordinary experiences. Analogies are an interesting and fascinating way to view counseling. We get a new sense of the dynamic relationship that takes place between counselor and client when described by analogies because analogies connect us to life experiences and each other.

Any counseling program needs to have this book as part of their program. Students can broaden their view of counseling through the use of analogies because it expands their concept of counseling. New counselors will benefit from Counseling is Like because it gives them a unique technique to use with their clients that enhances the counselor-client relationship by providing a method of revealing oneself that is safe and can even be fun. This is particularly important with male clients because for many males it is difficult to access their feelings easily. Analogies allow them to self-disclose in a safe way by giving them a tool to use that is sensible and relates directly to their personal day to day experiences. Seasoned counselors will benefit from this book because it offers a refreshing, new method a counselor can use not only with ongoing clients but with resistant clients and new clients as well. Counseling is Like is also a fun easy read about a complex, often serious subject that sheds new light on the counseling relationship and process.

Counseling is like...The Use of Analogies in Counseling is a delightful resource for counselor educators. In her book, Dr. Ross has collected an array of analogies that can be used to describe the subtle intricacies of counseling in simple, yet powerful, images. Students, instructors, and clientsalikewill benefit from these pearls of wisdom. The use of metaphor provides a touchstoneto keep the counseling process in perspective. The analogies in this bookare positive and creative images thatprovide useful guidelines for counselors on many levels.