Welcome!

Therapy is often described as a journey—one that requires both stability and movement. As a psychotherapist, I’ve seen how people struggle with feeling stuck in pain or overwhelmed by change, and I’ve found that metaphors offer a powerful way to reframe those experiences.

That’s why I named my practice Anchor & Sail Psychotherapy—to reflect the essential balance between grounding ourselves in what keeps us steady and having the courage to move forward toward growth.

Why Anchor & Sail?

Metaphors shape how we make sense of our experiences, and this one reflects the therapeutic process itself:

The Anchor represents stability, self-awareness, and emotional grounding—the tools we need to feel safe and centered in the face of life’s challenges.

The Sail symbolizes growth, change, and moving forward—embracing uncertainty, healing from the past, and stepping into new possibilities.

Together, they capture what therapy helps us do: find strength in where we are while building the momentum to move forward.

How Metaphors Work in Therapy

Metaphors are not just creative ways of speaking—they are fundamental to how we think, feel, and process emotions.

Research in cognitive psychology suggests that metaphorical thinking engages deeper neural pathways than literal language, making it a powerful tool for emotional processing and behavioral change (Gibbs, 2006).

In therapy, metaphors help us:

Externalize emotions – “It feels like I’m carrying a heavy backpack of stress.” This creates distance between the person and their pain, making it more manageable.

Reframe struggles – “I’m not stuck—I’m in the middle of a storm, and storms pass.” This subtle shift in language fosters hope and resilience.

 See new possibilities – “What if instead of fighting the waves, we learned how to sail with them?” This encourages adaptability and acceptance.

Psychologists Michael White and David Epston (1990) emphasized that narratives and metaphors shape how we understand our identities and experiences. When someone describes their anxiety as a "constant, deafening noise," they’ve already taken a step toward seeing it as something external and adjustable, rather than an unchangeable part of who they are.

Metaphors and the Mind-Body Connection

For individuals struggling with trauma, anxiety, mood disorders, or chronic pain, metaphors can be especially valuable. Emotional distress and physical pain often feel overwhelmingly abstract—difficult to name or explain.

Consider chronic pain:

• One client might describe their body as a ship battered by waves—acknowledging the struggle but also implying resilience.
• Another might say their pain is like a fire that flares up unpredictably—helping them see patterns in their experience and find ways to manage it.

By working with these metaphors, therapy helps reshape one’s relationship to suffering—moving from helplessness to a sense of agency.

Navigating Change with Metaphors

We often turn to metaphors in moments of crisis, transition, or transformation. Whether it's feeling “lost at sea” after a major life change or “stuck in the mud” of depression, these images help us understand where we are—and where we might go next.

Therapy, in many ways, is about expanding our internal language so that we don’t just see ourselves as "trapped" or "broken" but also as navigators, builders, and healers.

At Anchor & Sail Psychotherapy, I integrate the power of metaphor with evidence-based approaches to help clients move toward clarity, resilience, and healing.

Whether you need an anchor to steady you or a sail to propel you forward, therapy is a place to explore both.

Setting Sail

Metaphors aren’t just linguistic shortcuts—they are maps for the mind. They help us reimagine our struggles, find meaning in our experiences, and ultimately, change the way we see ourselves and our possibilities.

When we learn to anchor ourselves in the present while setting sail toward the future, we open the door to genuine transformation.

References

• Gibbs, R. W. (2006). Metaphor and thought: The challenge of metaphor in the cognitive sciences. Cambridge University Press.

• White, M., & Epston, D. (1990). Narrative means to therapeutic ends. Norton & Company.