Das Problem, der Spruch, die Lösung

For many people aphorisms are just part of their daily routine. A present is given at a birthday party together with a card with a (more or less) witty, funny or provocative saying in it. Doctoral dissertations are famous for their many aphorisms, and many authors are tempted to preface every single chapter with an appropriate saying.

In short: aphorisms may be found everywhere, in all sorts of contexts. We apply them for our own uplifting or for the pleasure of others. This volume on employing aphorisms in counseling and therapy is based on a collection of 86 pieces. This method is useful for dealing with both chronic problems that pop up in one´s own biography as well as for the little snags of everyday life.

They are applicable when doing self-counseling as well as in a classical therapeutic setting. Aphoristic counseling confronts the client with a statement concerning a particular matter at hand and prompts the client to take the (chance) saying completely seriously and to accept it as a solution. In aphoristic counseling the therapist challenges clients and offers them space to embrace new and alternative ways of looking at things.

This therapeutic form can be employed as a short-term therapy or as part of longer-term counseling. This volume demonstrates the various ways in which such sayings can be applied in social work, therapy and continuing education.