V is in her late 40's and had several partners, especially after her marriage
ended. She came to see me about some EFT sessions and the pressing issue was one
about picking the wrong partners. She was currently in another one of many
relationships which was causing her much anguish and emotional upset.
I asked her to tell me what she thought the problem was (after tapping on
several other issues) and she explained to me that she is an assertive, person,
outgoing and friendly. She is attracted to men who admire her assertiveness and
outgoing nature, however some time into the relationships things change and
these partners turn the table and want her to take on the passive role.
In telling me her story V spontaneously made mention that she felt like the
lioness on her circus stool and the partner like the lion tamer with his whip
and chair in hand. She feels like she is hunched on her hind legs, snarling and
baring her teeth while the partner is cracking his whip at her.
This was a perfect example and opportunity for me to take the metaphor
generated by the client and use it with the EFT set-up statements. I casually
wove the lioness/tamer into the statements and we tapped on:
Even though I feel cornered like the circus lioness in my relationships, I
accept myself
Even though I'm powerful like the lioness, I've allowed by partners to reduce
me into a cowering pussycat
Even though I choose the wrong partners, I'm a good person
Even though I want to continue being like the strong lioness I allow my
partners to turn the tables on me
I let weaker men control me and now I need to choose partners who are my
equal
I need to pick a lion rather than a lion tamer (she really like this one!)
I need to pick some one equal to me rather than someone I can dominate
Even though in the past I've been attracted to lion tamers, I now choose to
pick partners who are 'king of the jungle'
The effects on V were brilliant. She lit up like a bright light and laughed
saying, I'm going to look for lions from now on rather than tamers!
I've used metaphors with clients before, however this session with V really
highlighted the effectiveness of metaphor use. Clients can be helped if you ask
them what 'nursery rhyme or Aesop's fable does their situation remind them of.
They usually know best!
