Julia is lost for words.

The first question in her session – a simple and genuine “How are you?’ – has triggered an onslaught of emotions in her.

At a loss as to where to start, let alone expressing all that’s going on inside her, she’s speechless.

At times clients find it difficult to put into words what is merely felt. That’s where art comes in. In Julia’s situation it helps her choose a picture from a selection of magazine cut-outs: a photo of a door. This becomes an anchor for her, helping her describe her day at work - feeling separated and shut out from her colleagues, not knowing what was going on, or if anything was going on at all.

In the course of the session she separates assumptions from facts and eventually opens the door to realise that most of her unease was due to her reluctance to speak up.

Sometimes, art can be an effective tool in coaching. Taking an image away from a coaching session helps the client to think about their issues afterwards, maybe adding to it and coming up with new ideas and possibilities.

I ask another client to draw symbols for himself, his work situation and home life. Using these as a basis for exploring the situation he sees himself in helps him find out what’s missing and what he has too much of. The symbols give him a visual lead to see the bigger picture, to detect patterns and try alternative approaches. 

Finding which coping strategies you are using can also be fun by telling a “hero story” with the help of picture cards.

Storytelling in itself is an easy tool to get insight from. In many instances, the client can find a starting point for a solution to his or her issue.

Among one client’s cards, there’s a picture of a path splitting into two directions. She’s at crossroads, but hasn’t considered the option of having a choice. Rather she feels caught in the assumption that there’s only one way to go.

Describing an abstract painting is another approach to loosen the mind and get away from the solution-focused thinking.

One painting has been described by different people variously as ‘a garden’, a ‘winding road’ and ‘thunderclouds’.

 You don’t have to be artistically skilled or have any creative talent; it’s willingness to think out of the box that gets people unstuck.

Using hobby metaphors can also help people to describe situations that are undefined, vague, or uncomfortable.

One client, who loves to cook likens his work situation to scrambled eggs, but wants a five-course-meal instead. Staying with this picture leads him to explore new input and possible alternatives on a level removed from the actual situation.

For instance, he asks what kind of spices are involved, whether they’re hot, smooth, exotic or natural, who is invited to the meal and why, and who or what can help make it a success.

And it’s not always the client who comes up with images. When I work with people, I listen closely and tune in. I often see their situations as scenes I describe to them. These  help the client to get a different angle.

Colours, symbols, photos, music, stories and metaphors can all help to shift perspectives. They can work when words do not.

Published in South China Morning Post       August 2009

Gudrun Kittel-Thong