The Clean Language questions that are used most frequently are listed below. The aspect of experience that the question draws the client’s attention to is in italics.
The Clean Language Questions of David Grove
Develop the metaphor
Attributes
And what kind of x is that x?
And is there anything else about x?
Location
And where/whereabouts is x?
Ask for a metaphor
And that’s x like what?
Relationships between symbols
And is there a relationship between x & y?
And when x, what happens to y?
Sequence
Before
And what happens just before x?
After
And then what happens/What happens next?
Source
And where could/does x come from?
Desired outcome
And what would [you/symbol] like to have happen?
Conditions that are necessary for change
And what needs to happen for [outcome]?
And can [condition happen]?
‘x’ and ‘y’ = the participant’s words.
How does a metaphor for stress transform into a potential resource for the client? As facilitators, we can’t make this happen but we know some of the conditions that make it more likely. So with these in mind, and in keeping with NLP’s focus on outcomes rather than problems, we direct the client to pay attention to their desired outcome, and to the desired outcome of the stress metaphor.
We therefore do not start with an in-depth exploration of the stress metaphor (we can come back to it if necessary – and it often isn’t necessary). Once the client has told their story and we’ve given them a brief opportunity to do some self-modelling of the stress symptom, we direct the client’s attention to their desired outcome.
For example:
Client: My life has ground to a halt
Facilitator: And your life has ground to a halt. And when your life has ground to a halt, is there anything else about ‘ground to a halt’?
Client: It is like I am on a wagon and the wheel is not secure and sooner or later it will collapse.
Facilitator: And a wagon and wheel not secure. And what kind of wagon is that wagon?
Client: It’s got four wheels and is going along in a rut. But one wheel is coming off its axle.
Facilitator: And when a wagon with four wheels in a rut and one wheel coming off its axle – what would you like to have happen?
As well as asking the client, ‘And what would you like to have happen?’, we ask: ‘And what would [stress symbol] like to have happen?’ This last question honours the NLP presupposition that there is a positive intention behind every behaviour: while coins jangling on ends of nerves aren’t fun for the client, we assume that the coins have a positive intention for the client in doing this. In this instance, Marian’s coins were making all that noise in an attempt to get her to really listen to her body so that she didn’t use up several days’ worth of energy in one go.
Sometimes, having the opportunity to find out more about their desired outcome is all that is needed – many people have a tendency to focus on their problems, so they know much more about them than about their outcome. This lack of information about the outcome can mean they have no idea about what needs to happen to achieve it, and so they can never take the first steps towards it, and instead remain stuck in the status quo. Also, focusing on the outcome helps them to get into a better state, which will support them in finding out how to get what they want. In contrast, a thorough exploration of stress is likely to leave the client feeling stressed, and this is not the best state from which to improve the situation.
Once the client knows more about what they would like to have happen, we direct their attention to what needs to happen to reach their outcome, and check that these conditions can be met, or help them to model what needs to happen to achieve the conditions.
The end of the session is not the end to any transformation of the client’s metaphors: there are often further developments after the session. After resting for some weeks, Wendy’s hooks discovered that they could fill a useful function by transforming into a thin metal wire running through her body, to provide the power and strength of a sportsperson, on their mettle (!), ready to meet the challenge of their sport – and for this to happen, she needed to exercise. And can she exercise? Yes, and she is exercising.
How could you apply this?
As well as using this process with stress, it can be used with any other physical symptoms, and also with non-physical issues. Indeed some counsellors and therapists use this approach exclusively in their work and it is also widely used by coaches.
More broadly, since Clean Language is an ‘honouring, affirming and facilitatory language’, it has a place in a multitude of conversational interactions – anywhere that clear communication is important.
References, Reading and Websites
Cooper, C. & Palmer S. ‘Conquer your Stress’, 2000, CIPD
David Grove’s website: www.davidgrove.com
Health and Safety Executive website: www.hse.gov.uk/stress/index.htm
Hejmadi, AV. & Lyall, PJ. Autogenic Metaphor Resolution in Bretto, C. et al. (eds.) ‘Leaves Before the Wind’, 1991, Grinder, DeLozier & Associates
Lakoff, G. and Johnson, M. ‘Metaphors We Live By’, 2003, Univ. of Chicago Press
Lawley, J. & Tompkins, P. ‘Metaphors in Mind’, 2000, The Developing Company Press
Penny Tompkins & James Lawley’s website: www.cleanlanguage.co.uk
Wilkinson, G. ‘Understanding stress’, 1997, Family Doctor Publications
