Metaphors Of Movement
Level I

One thing that all clients and in fact all people have in common is that we think in metaphor. For example we say things like, “Making progress has been an uphill struggle…” or “My boss thinks he’s the center of the universe….” We might talk about being on a “rollercoaster ride of emotions,” or “treasuring” a memory from childhood. 

We usually ignore these metaphorical communications, or brush them off as “just a figure of speech,” but in fact these phrases hold within them more information about someone’s experience than everything else they tell us. As Charles Faulkner so aptly put it, with metaphor we can discover ”worlds within a word.” 

This means that these metaphors can be used to unlock deep and lasting change. Rather than tell our clients our own metaphors (which is a lot more work, and often mismatches their experience), we can use the metaphors our clients already think and live by. This brings deep insight into what isn’t working, and what might actually work better.

Developed by Andrew T Austin, Metaphors of Movement is a powerful methodology that allows us to uncover the structure of our problems, and awaken to key dynamics we didn’t even know were there holding the problem in place.

Recordings Included:
Each training session will be recorded, meaning you’ll have the opportunity to view the recording as many times as you like afterwards for up to 1 year, and you’ll get audio recordings of the training for life. This means you can miss some or all of the live training, and still watch it all on recording (Just be fully caught up with the material before attending any live training segment).

Bonus Practice Sessions:
In addition to the main training sessions each weekend (two days worth of material), you will have access to optional bonus practice sessions led by an experienced MoM assistant, so you can put into practice what you learn each week (or if you had to miss one or more live sessions, you can still get live practice). We also have a facebook group where you can self-organize extra practice sessions. This means that even if you can’t attend live, you’ll still have options to practice some or all of the exercises.

Detailed Course Manual:
The course includes a comprehensive training manual for reference after you’ve had your own experience of the work–you don’t need to look at the manual at all prior to the training, and are actually encouraged to ignore it until later.

In these four webinars we’ll have time to thoroughly experience the structure of the Metaphors of Movement process. We’ll go from “how do I access my metaphor?” through exploring how to gain clarity and insights based on what you find. You’ll have lots of guidance and help as you explore your subjective experience in a new way. Most important, you’ll have ample opportunity to explore metaphors for your own life situations. It can be surprising what we can learn from our own inner metaphors. Many “ah-ha’s” emerge as we go through the course of the training.

Webinars 1 & 2

• How to go from “the content” to “the metaphor.”
• How to elicit the metaphoric landscape.
• Discover how to match someone’s metaphor using common idioms. (It’s simpler than you might think, and lots of fun.)
• Learn how matching with idioms can create deep rapport and insights.

Webinars 3 & 4

• Learn to recognize the main categories of metaphors, and what to do with each type. You will learn:
• The Obstructions: external rules and values.
• The Containers: container metaphors, inherited status, families and long term problems.
• The Burdens: responsibilities and guilts.
• The Contaminations: shame and shame avoidance
• The Heights: status
• The Bubbles: beliefs and values.
• Learn how outcomes are represented in metaphor
• Learn the most common mistakes people make with metaphor work, and what to do instead.
• Tips for exploring a metaphor to “know where you are” and gain clarity on your direction.
• Specific guidance on what to do and not do in considering a change.

Note: In this way of working with metaphor, the content of your situation can remain completely confidential. The insights each of us gain about our life situations can be clear to us, and yet remain “just a metaphor” to others. You’ll see how this works in the group.

The format of this class will be fun and experiential. Your trainer Mark Andreas will introduce each topic, share some examples, and demonstrate with volunteers in front of the group or with group guided exercises. Then you’ll have a chance to explore and practice each element in smaller groups, followed by group discussion and Q & A.

Meeting Live-Online via Zoom:

The training sessions will happen online through Zoom. To participate you’ll need access to the internet, and have a computer or laptop with a webcam. If this is your first time using Zoom, we recommend you test out Zoom with a friend ahead of time. Contact us if you have any questions about being able to log into the meeting successfully.

Training Dates & Times: Jan 25-26 & Feb 1-2 , 2025 (Saturdays & Sundays)
Each webinar will be 10:00am – 1:30pm, Denver Colorado time

Location: Online using Zoom

4 Bonus Group Practice Sessions: Led by an experienced Alum, these sessions will be from 10:00am to 12:00noon Denver CO time on Thursdays Jan 30, Feb 6, 13 & 20)

Bonus MoM Session Offer: If you like, you can get a 90-min. Metaphors of Movement session with Mark Andreas for the reduced price of $150, after you sign up for this level I training. These sessions will take place over Zoom either before or after the training. Contact Mark here to arrange your session.