How To Turn An “inner Beast” Into A Human

2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43

In therapy, there is often a metaphor about an animal in a cage, where the animal is the client's idea of himself, and the cage is the limitations in which the person is. I have used this metaphor several times as an exercise. Practical example. The client is a young girl in long-term therapy. Main complaints: lack of self-confidence, uncontrollable aggressiveness. The client's permission to publish has been received.

If you were a beast, what kind?

- I am a cheetah.

Imagine a cage. How are the cheetah and the cage located in relation to each other?

- The cheetah is in a cage.

Describe it

- It is a large sand-colored cat with huge claws and fangs.

Why does she need huge claws and fangs?

- She is filled with hatred. He wants to destroy EVERYONE who gets close.

Describe the cage, what is it like? Is there a door in it?

“It's a tight cage with thick metal rods. In addition to the cheetah, there is a bowl of food. There is no room for anything else. The cage door is latched from the outside.

How did the cheetah end up in the cage?

- Mom put me in a little cage. I knew that a predator would grow out of me, because as a child I bit, behaved like a wild animal.

What does mom feel about the cheetah now?

- Fears. Knows that I will "tear" her.

Where are the other family members?

- Dad walks past the cage. Pretends not to notice. Brother is a puppy on a leash, playing in the room. Mom strokes him, walks with him according to his mood.

And the cheetah is released from the cage?

- Only according to the testimony of a doctor. When a cheetah refuses to eat, it means that it is sick. Then his mother walks him without a muzzle. He is sick, there is no strength for aggression.

What does the cheetah want?

- Freedom.

How can he get freedom?

- The cheetah in a rage breaks the lock, looks around, sees what he did not have. She turns into a girl, destroys everything in the house, starts a fire, and gives the puppy to her grandmother.

How do you feel now?

- Less anger. But, I do not like this course of events. Can you think of it differently?

Sure. This is your story. You are its author. What you don't like can be changed

- Good. Then so. A man appears near the cage. He has a lot of love and patience. He tells me: "You are a man, not a beast." And holds out his hand. The cheetah is trying to scratch this hand. "Do not pretend. You are kind,”the man says.

What does the cheetah want now?

- To keep the person close.

And what's going on?

- The man is located near the cage, drinks coffee, reads something. The cheetah gradually begins to get used to it, trust develops. A man takes a cheetah out of a cage, walks with him on a leash in the park. A cheetah can roar out of habit, a person strokes it. They go to a cafe, a cheetah sits on a chair, and he becomes an unkempt girl - shaggy, with long dirty nails. I don't understand what's on the menu, he orders himself. I drink water with a loud sound. Then we go out into the street, and I again become a cheetah. It's safer this way. When I'm human, I don't know how to defend myself. He: “You are safe with me. I will protect you. " It's starting to rain. I'm hiding under a bench. He takes a few steps and beckons me with a sausage. I'm angry, growling, but I'm going. On a leash, he leads me to his home. The cheetah has settled down under the table, it somehow reminds him of his familiar cage. The man covered the cheetah with a blanket. I am pleased that a person is with me. In the morning, on a small table, a "human breakfast" is waiting for me - juice and crumpet. She ate and hid under the table again. The man offers to take a walk. I want to walk in uncrowded places. But, it's unusual to talk about your desires. I'm afraid they will always make you talk. I'm not ready for this. I write on paper: "Forest". Hope he understands. And he seems to understand. Suggests to go off the leash. We go on the bus, everyone shies away from the cheetah. The man explains: “She is with me. Manual ". We come to the fields, meadows. I like it more than the forest.

I want to play, run on the grass, climb a tree. The cheetah is playing, and the person is nearby, picking flowers and giving a bouquet … to the cheetah. I turn into a girl and quietly say, "Thank you."

Then we go as a couple. I got hungry, and began to look closely at the mice. The cheetah's instincts remained. I freeze and start to turn into a cheetah. The man warms me up, covers me with his jacket. Calls a taxi. We are going to the house, which I already consider to be mine … The client's fantasy clearly shows that the process of transformation "from an animal into a man" occurs gradually. Anger is transformed into trust in the world if there is a supportive inner figure who knows how to care, has patience and faith. Growing up article How to make friends with your Inner Child and start trusting the world.