Using Metaphor to Shift Function:

A Functional Contextualist, RFT, and ACT-Informed Perspective

By Todd Schmenk, M.S., M.Ed, LMHC

In the therapeutic space, metaphors serve as powerful tools—not because of what they literally represent, but because of what they do. When crafted and delivered intentionally, metaphors shift the function of psychological events. This paper explores how metaphors work within the frameworks of Functional Contextualism (FC), Relational Frame Theory (RFT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), emphasizing how they alter the behavioral function of internal experiences to enhance psychological flexibility.

Functional Contextualism: Targeting Behavior-in-Context

FC serves as the philosophical foundation for both ACT and RFT. It directs our attention away from the structure or form of behavior and toward its function—what a behavior does in a specific context. From this lens, a metaphor is not just a communication tool; it is a contextual intervention designed to influence the trajectory of behavior.

For example, the metaphor of “trying to hold a beach ball underwater” is not meant to provide a literal solution to emotional suppression. Its purpose is to highlight the futility and energy cost of control strategies.

The function of a client’s urge to suppress is altered: from something seemingly helpful to something unsustainable and ultimately ineffective. By embedding this message in a metaphor, we allow the client to feel the implications of their strategy in an experiential way.

Relational Frame Theory: Why Metaphors Work

RFT provides the behavioral account of human language and cognition, explaining how metaphors impact behavior through derived relational responding. Metaphors work because they exploit our ability to form relations among arbitrary stimuli based on context, often rapidly and without direct experience.

When we say, “Your mind is like a noisy passenger on a long road trip,” we establish a relational frame (e.g., coordination, distinction, comparison) that positions thoughts not as commands but as background chatter. The relational network activated by this metaphor can loosen the dominance of literal language. Instead of “I must obey this thought,” the new function becomes “I can notice and choose how to respond.” RFT helps us see that metaphor is not about words—it's about frames that shape how behavior is guided.

ACT: Using Metaphor to Foster Psychological Flexibility

ACT employs metaphors strategically to support its six core processes, all oriented toward building psychological flexibility. In this model, metaphors serve as experiential bridges—ways to step into new relationships with thoughts, feelings, and urges.

Take the “Leaves on a Stream” metaphor. It invites the client to observe thoughts non-judgmentally, distancing from content and contacting Self-as-Context. In doing so, it shifts the function of thoughts from rules that dictate behavior to experiences that can be witnessed. This subtle shift is what defines effective ACT work: the move from content (what the thought says) to function (what the thought does in the moment).

Each metaphor serves a process: