In Coaching, a tool called "reframing" is used to help clients shift their perception and, thus, their feelings. Reframing often requires one to think of analogies that can help clients to view their circumstances, from a new angle. Here's an example of Reframing: A client has an issue with their very over-protective mother. They tell you, "I feel like she invades every part of my life. It's like throwing ink into a glass of water. She is everywhere, all the time, and I don't have any room for myself." The Coach responds, "Well, what if you start to look at her as a pebble in the glass of water. She's in your life, but you can draw some boundaries, to keep her involvement and influence contained."

This combination of analogy and reframing helps the client to recognize their own ability to establish boundaries, with their mother. They stop feeling helpless and begin feeling empowered. here is another example of Reframing: You have a client who feels that having to stop using drugs and attend meetings is going to ruin their life. "I'm afraid I'm going to turn into a boring person. I feel like I'm going to become a monk, or something", they say. How could a therapist reframe their perspective? How could they choose an analogy other than "a monk" to help them view recovery differently?