Why “three mountains?”
A metaphor for therapy
Modified from the Two Mountains Metaphor in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) that describes the therapeutic relationship.
You and I are each on our own journey,
and each of us is climbing our own particular mountain of experiences. Imagine that from across a valley, as I climb my mountain, I can see you making your way up your mountain. Because of my point of view, I can offer you some perspective on your journey.
Maybe I can help you know that you made it through a really tough part of the climb, and that part is over now. Or maybe I can help you through some rough terrain ahead. I’ll be with you as you explore different trailheads and share what I, too, am learning about climbing and mountain paths.
Any perspective I have as your therapist is by virtue of me being on a different mountain, not because I am ahead on your path and looking down at you. Our therapeutic relationship is not one where I am the “expert” and you are the “novice.” I have my own share of dead ends or mudslides to navigate on my path, and this is a part of what enables me to offer therapy that may be helpful to you. We are each experts in our own ways, and at different times deeply in need of viewpoints outside our own.
My role in your therapy is to offer you guidance on your climb that helps you move forward in life.
And actually, there are three mountains, because I have someone behind me, helping me as well.
As a mountain climber myself, there actually is another climber across the valley from me, helping me get perspective when needed. I don’t do this work alone, in fact, none of us do, and this is why I named my therapy practice, “Three Mountains Therapy.” As my ACT professor showed us in my social work program, there are many mountains—many mountains to climb and many climbers helping us get where we want to go.
