CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy in the US or cognitive behaviour therapy in the UK) sometimes uses metaphor to help clients gain insight into their issue.
Metaphor therapy uses metaphor because sometimes we have so much emotion linked to our own issue that we cannot handle it well.
When we solve a parallel problem (with lower emotional overtones) we can see what we can do in our situation.
mylifecoachapp extends metaphor therapy and CBT’s use of metaphor into visual metaphor life coaching to deal with unhelpful emotions.