Airplane Metaphors

From time to time I share some of the many therapeutic metaphors I use in my counseling work with individuals and couples. I find that analogies are often useful ways to highlight important points in a memorable, illuminating and lasting manner. I was recently reflecting on four metaphors involving airplanes that I find myself using from time to time.

The first "airplane metaphor" highlights the importance of engaging in positive behaviors sufficiently enough to account for shifting circumstances that may otherwise prove too much to handle. Although I've often written about the value of small or incremental change, the fact remains that sometimes people don't alter their behavior enough to guard against "crashing and burning" under dire conditions.

A classic example of this principle is a person with an alcohol problem who continues to associate with former drinking buddies. While successful sobriety is possible for a period of time under such circumstances, the risk of an eventual relapse is unnecessarily high. Another example that is common to many people is to fail to save sufficient money to handle the typical kinds of unexpected expenditures that befall everybody, such as large car repairs or purchases, job loss, sudden illness and other financial hardships. I think of these situations as being similar to a plane flying a mere 50 feet above the ground: a slight change in the terrain or a sudden downdraft can result in devastating consequences.

A second and related "airplane metaphor" involves the importance of gaining sufficient momentum to bring about the sustained process of positive change. For example, I recently worked with a client who began medication for depression but who only took one-half of the recommended dose. Not surprisingly this approach wasn't very effective, which only reinforced her sense of futility. I emphasized the importance of taking the full dosage long enough to give the medication a fair chance of working. I used the example that although a plane may roll down a runway at 40 miles an hour it will never fly at that speed.

A third "airplane metaphor" involves the importance of 'flying solo' with a new behavior. As I've previously written, a pilot-in-training needs a minimum amount of "stick time" before being considered competent enough to fly without an instructor on board. Simulating an emergency situation is a useful way to safely evaluate the student pilot's ability to handle the "real deal" when it comes along. In a similar manner I sometimes encourage clients who have made great gains to consciously create and resolve a high-risk situation while we are still working together in order to gain a sense of independent competence that can prove to be very helpful in the future.

The fourth metaphor involving airplanes is a tragic condition known as the "graveyard spiral", in which an increasingly disoriented pilot gradually allows the plane to enter into an ever-tightening spiral while under the mistaken impression that it is still flying straight and level. By the time the pilot realizes the mistake it is too late, and the plane crashes. This underscores the reality that sometimes we think we are on the proper course when in fact we are heading toward destruction. For this reason we all need to have reliable and accurate feedback about our true heading and not make matters worse through our own well-intended but misguided actions.

Finally, there are times when a therapy session is rollicking along but the time is running out. I don't want to end the meeting too abruptly so I will let the client know of our dilemma and suggest we both look for "a plane to land the plane". We generally are then able to wrap things up quickly but smoothly.

Through the use of metaphors such as these, clients are often able to apply deep truths to their lives in a way that wouldn't happen by direct instruction. This is why I consider metaphoric language to be so very useful in helping people to lead happier, healthier lives.

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