"A favourite metaphor that I use to explain the purpose of psychotherapy to my patients is the Two Mountains Metaphor.  Imagine that the patient and psychologist are on 2 separate mountains.  And from where the psychologist is on his or her mountain, he or she can see things on the patient's mountain that the patient cannot see - like what is the alternative pathway to take or if there is an impending landslide.

Our role as a psychologist is then to guide the patient to learn to overcome obstacles and explore alternative routes to climb the mountain.  That being said, therapy is also not just about talking and venting regarding problems individuals face. It involves an active, collaborative process of learning to be better and better at climbing our own mountains."

Ng Jing Xuan
Psychologist
Singapore General Hospital

Tags: Psychologist, Allied Health