1. The Sailboat
Metaphor

2. The Sailboat Metaphor
The sailboat metaphor
compares human functioning to a captain with a sailboat and its journey
3 components: boat, captain & lighthouse
autonomy, authenticity, resilience

3. Why this metaphor? adding structure to the ‘conceptual jungle’ of PP
The Sailboat Metaphor
Why this metaphor?
adding structure to the ‘conceptual jungle’ of PP
creating a balanced approach to human functioning
creating an intuitive and profound framework for teaching and practicing PP

4. The 8 elements of the boat
The Sailboat Metaphor

5. The 8 elements of the boat
The Sailboat Metaphor

6. The 8 elements of the boat
The Sailboat Metaphor

7. The 8 elements of the boat
The Sailboat Metaphor

8. The 8 elements of the boat
The Sailboat Metaphor

9. The 8 elements of the boat
The Sailboat Metaphor

10. The 8 elements of the boat
The Sailboat Metaphor

11. The 8 elements of the boat
The Sailboat Metaphor

12. The 8 elements of the boat
The Sailboat Metaphor

13. The Captain ‘master’ of the boat interacts with the other elements
The Sailboat Metaphor
The Captain
‘master’ of the boat
interacts with the other elements
relates to the other elements
symbol of autonomy

14. The Captain: 4 key elements
The Sailboat Metaphor

15. The Captain: 4 key elements
The Sailboat Metaphor

16. The Captain: 4 key elements
The Sailboat Metaphor

17. The Captain: 4 key elements
The Sailboat Metaphor

18. The captain: Study aid acronym: ATMA
The Sailboat Metaphor
The captain: Study aid
acronym: ATMA
Hinduism: the personal soul or self;
the thinking principle as manifested in consciousness

19. Important note every person is a captain
The Sailboat Metaphor
Important note
every person is a captain
regardless of skin colour, background, religion, etc.

20. The captain and the sailboat
The Sailboat Metaphor

21. Example concept translation
The Sailboat Metaphor
Example concept translation
resiliency:
making use of social support

22. Example concept translation
The Sailboat Metaphor
Example concept translation
resiliency:
dealing with internal stressors

23. Example concept translation
The Sailboat Metaphor
Example concept translation
resiliency:
dealing with external stressors

24. Example concept translation
The Sailboat Metaphor
Example concept translation
resiliency:
cognitively re-appraising stressful events as less threatening

25. Translate to sailboat How can the following indications of low
The Sailboat Metaphor
Translate to sailboat
5/6
How can the following indications of low
well-being be translated to the sailboat metaphor?
lack of meaning in life
inability to deal with difficult events

26. The Sailboat Metaphor
Translate to sailboat
5/6
How can the following indications of high well-being be translated to the sailboat metaphor?
personal strengths used at work
positive beliefs about the ability to reach goals

27. Advantages for clients
The Sailboat Metaphor
Advantages for clients
offers a “safe” way to describe experiences
a more holistic view of clients (rather than leak focus only)
allows clients to take a meta perspective on themselves

28. Interpreting client responses
The Sailboat Metaphor
Interpreting client responses ”
“I don’t feel like my boat is moving. It is floating in one place, bobbing on the waves.”
the client may experience a lack of meaning and/or autonomy.

29. Interpreting client responses
The Sailboat Metaphor
Interpreting client responses ”
“I feel like I am sailing in a direction that other sailors want me to sail.”
the client may experience a lack of meaning and/or autonomy.

30. Interpreting client responses
The Sailboat Metaphor
Interpreting client responses ”
“I am afraid that my boat will not withstand the stormy weather that is coming.”
the client may experience a lack of meaning and/or autonomy.

31. The status of your sailboat
The Sailboat Metaphor
The status of your sailboat 8
In pairs, use the sailboat metaphor to describe how you are currently doing. What is the current status of your sailboat? How would you describe your current journey? Try to speak as much as possible in terms of the different elements of the sailboat and their interaction.

32. individual’s relationship with each element
3 levels of analysis
The Sailboat Metaphor
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
meta level
global
functioning
element level
strengths
emotions
values
relationship level
individual’s relationship with each element

33. The Lighthouse practitioner temporary aid on journey
The Sailboat Metaphor
The Lighthouse
practitioner
temporary aid on journey
operates in service of boat’s journey
clarifies current position of boat
clarifies environment of boat

34. The Lighthouse
The Sailboat Metaphor

35. The Lighthouse
The Sailboat Metaphor

36. Critical notes “the map is not the territory” a model, not reality
The Sailboat Metaphor
Critical notes
“the map is not the territory”
a model, not reality
reduction of endless complexity
many different ways to map concepts
the description of the thing is not the thing itself. 
The model is not reality. 

37. Thanks
for your attention