Books

Mining Your Client's Metaphors: Parts 1 and 2

By Gina Campbell

These workbooks are the culmination of seven years of experience training others in how to facilitate using Clean Language. 

Part One teaches nine Clean Language questions and the guiding strategies for their use in helping clients deeply explore their inner worlds. 

Part Two deepens your understanding and use of the Clean Language questions, and also adds three more basic questions to guide the client who wants to change when it doesn’t occur with greater clarity alone. 

Other books on Clean Language

(arranged alphabetically by author)

Coaching Supervision at its BEST (2014) by Jackie Arnold. Arnold gives guidance and plenty of examples as to how to apply Clean Language to supervising to “develop the capability for reflective practice in the coach.”

The Five-Minute Coach: Improve Performance Rapidly (2012) by Lynne Cooper and Marietta Castellino. The authors teach business coaches 10 Clean Language questions as they can be applied to the work environment. Clear and accessible. A how-to book.

Clean Coaching: The Insider Guide to Making Change Happen (2017) by Angela Dunbar. Dunbar has been a Clean Language trainer for years, and it shows in this fine introduction to the basics.

Resolving Traumatic Memories: Metaphors and Symbols in Psychotherapy (1989) by David Grove and B.J. Panzer. Although Grove's work evolved considerably between the publication of this book in 1989 and the time of his death in 2008, this look at a his early thinking nonetheless makes for a fascinating read. As the title makes clear, it focuses on describing Grove's work with trauma clients, explaining his reasoning and strategies. Not a how-to book. Out of print.

The Power of Six: A Six Part Guide to Self Knowledge (2009) by Philip Harland. Harland describes in step-by-step detail the process he and David Grove were working with at the time of Grove's death, Emergent Knowledge. As an associate of Grove's for years, no one could better explain the whys and hows of this six step therapy technique that uses a single Clean Language question than Harland.

Trust Me, I'm the Patient: Clean Language, Metaphor, and the New Psychology of Change  (2012) Philip Harland . Harland develops a wonderfully rich context for his exploration of Clean Language. It's challenging, but very readable. If you're curious as to how Clean Language fits in an academic, historic context and compares to other theories or approaches, this would be the book to start with. It wouldn't be my first choice for actually learning to facilitate using Clean Language, but I certainly recommend it as in introduction or follow up to my how-to workbook.

Insights in Space: How to use Clean Space to solve problems, generate ideas and spark creativity (2017) by James Lawley and Marian Way. About 2001, David Grove began directing a client's movement in space to multiple perspectives to encourage inner exploration. He called the method Clean Space. Lawley and Way have started with Grove's experiments and further honed and elaborated on the process themselves, culminating in this thorough investigation of the potential of Clean Space. Chock full of ideas, examples, and new what-to-do ideas for when the client's session suggests going beyond the standard script.

Metaphors in Mind: Transformation through Symbolic Modelling (2000) by James Lawley and Penny Tompkins is designed for those wishing to understand the theory behind Clean Language and Symbolic Modeling and to learn how to facilitate the Symbolic Modeling process. It employs several simple client transcripts to illustrate its step-by-step discussion of the process and its rationale. A dense read, but one I still come back to again and again. I recommend it  for those who already have some exposure to or training in Clean Language. Not the resource with which to begin your exploration.

A Strange and Strong Sensation, Symbolic Modeling; Change with Metaphor (2004) is a DVD of a full-length Symbolic Modeling session Penny Tompkins and James Lawley co-facilitate. The session is annotated on screen to help beginning facilitators track the metaphors.

Clean Language in the Classroom (2016) by Julie McCracken. An experienced classroom teacher demonstrates how using Clean Language with students brings out their best thinking and creates a warm and respectful environment that fosters learning. Lots of ideas to apply.

Words that Touch: How to Ask Questions Your Body Can Answer (12 Essential "Clean Questions" for Mind/Body Therapists) (2017) by Nick Pole elegantly weaves a description of what Clean Language is all about and comparisons to other processes and theories with illustrative stories about how Pole integrates Clean Language into his shiatsu (acupressure) sessions. This is not just a book for body workers, for all Clean Language sessions involve the body, in some sense. A great starter book for those new to Clean Language.

Clean Language: Revealing Metaphors and Opening Minds (2008) by Wendy Sullivan and Judy Rees offers both theory and lots of skill building in Clean Language and Symbolic Modeling. Written in a conversational style. A how-to book.

From Contempt to Curiosity: Creating the Conditions for Groups to Collaborate (Using Clean Language & Systemic Modeling) (2014) by Caitlin Walker. Part autobiography and part an unfolding-over-time description of Walker's Systemic Modelling for working with groups.

Clean Approaches for Coaches: Create the Conditions for Change Using Clean Language and Symbolic Modelling (2013) by Marian Way. An articulate, well-organized book that will give you another take on the CL and SyM.  A how-to book.

The Work and Life of David Grove: Clean Language and Emergent Knowledge (2017) by Carol Wilson, who knew Grove well and worked with him. Full of descriptions of Grove's remarkably inventive mind at work from many people in the Clean Language community who knew him well.