A metaphor may be viewed as a gestalt in which the verbal content forms the figure and the context of circumstances provides the background. The latter includes such matters as current important events, the transference situation, the character structure of the patient, etc. The author demonstrates various ways of using a patient's metaphors during different phases of treatment. With a schizophrenic woman he at first responded 'within the metaphor', later calling attention to the affects conveyed, and, finally, having recognized the growing strength of the patient's ego, he offered more direct interpretation of the content and the defenses.