Metaphors are valuable tools of expression, which give meaning to situations and allow the spontaneous processing of feelings and emotions. As therapists, we can support clients to develop and create their individual metaphor to explain their own meaning of experiences or communicate their perception of problems. Creativity provides us with a rich landscape to explore, expand, and enrich ourselves as therapists and consequently our clients. As systemic therapists, we are responsible for the co-creation of a human process, which has at its core safety in allowing expression, connection, and movement. Through a respectful and curious approach, we can develop pathways to tap organically into our ‘creative selves’ while reaching into our clients' creativity and selves as catalysts for connection and positive change. Creative resources and therapies have been successfully used in psychotherapy to enhance the mental and emotional well-being of children, particularly children with autism who have limited verbal capacity or who are non-verbal. These children also wish to be understood in expressing their thoughts and feelings; however, they use other methods of communication – sometimes obvious, sometimes not. Therefore, it is important that a therapist can access diverse ways to support the child through this process. The creative use of animals in therapy neutralises spaces, eliciting calm, safety, and healing. This is particularly the case when working with this group of children. This paper is derived from my conversation with an elder statesman of the family therapy profession, Professor Carmine Saccu. He is a jovial master storyteller who craftfully communicates via metaphors. Through creative means, play, and humour, he has developed a remarkably unique way of working with children, especially non-verbal children with autism. He uses his canine, co-therapist Mafalda, as a powerful resource and intervention strategy to safely elicit engagement and connection in the therapeutic space.

中文翻译：

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La Metafora：隐喻和创造性资源在与自闭症家庭和儿童系统性合作中的力量——与 Carmine Saccu 的对话

隐喻是有价值的表达工具，它赋予情境意义，并允许自发地处理感受和情绪。作为治疗师，我们可以支持客户发展和创造他们的个人隐喻，以解释他们自己的经历的意义或传达他们对问题的看法。创造力为我们作为治疗师以及我们的客户提供了探索、扩展和丰富自己的丰富景观。作为系统治疗师，我们负责共同创造人类过程，其核心安全在于允许表达、联系和运动。通过尊重和好奇的方法，我们可以开发有机地挖掘我们的“创造性自我”的途径，同时发挥客户的创造力和自我作为联系和积极变革的催化剂。创造性资源和疗法已成功用于心理治疗，以增强儿童的精神和情感健康，特别是语言能力有限或非语言能力的自闭症儿童。这些孩子也希望在表达自己的想法和感受时得到理解；然而，他们使用其他沟通方式——有时是显而易见的，有时则不是。因此，治疗师能够通过多种方式来支持孩子度过这个过程是很重要的。在治疗中创造性地使用动物可以中和空间，带来平静、安全和治愈。在与这群儿童一起工作时尤其如此。本文源自我与家庭治疗行业的一位元老政治家 Carmine Saccu 教授的对话。他是一位快乐的讲故事大师，巧妙地通过隐喻进行交流。通过创造性的手段、游戏和幽默，他开发了一种与儿童，特别是患有非语言自闭症的儿童一起工作的非常独特的方式。他使用他的狗、合作治疗师 Mafalda 作为强大的资源和干预策略，以安全地引发治疗空间中的参与和联系。