The Wizard of Oz:
A Metaphor for Understanding Therapy & Life Coaching

Our Journey Down the Yellow Brick Road

I have often used THE WIZARD OF OZ as a metaphor in therapy as a microcosm of life. We are all walking down some yellow brick road searching for our authenticity and essence that has been shrouded by the wounds in our lives. We hope to find ourselves thinking that perhaps a wizard (aka therapist) can show us the way home. Each character in the story is a part of us. The Lion represents our fears and poor self-image; the Tin Man, our inability to connect with our feelings; and the Scarecrow, our damaged cognition that prevents us from considering better choices.

Challenging our Fears

After Dorothy realizes the wizard can’t help them find Emerald City, all four find themselves struggling through the dark, green forest, fearing “lions and tigers” that scare the heebie jeebies out of them. When Toto leaps from Dorothy’s arms, leaving her vulnerable without her “security blanket” (alias Toto), she suddenly connects with her power. She seizes the moment to delegate to her companions what they each must do, declaring that she would kill the wicked witch of the West. Glinda, the witch of the East (her higher power) descends to tell her she only needs to click her heels, and she will be back home in Kansas. Dorothy, with hands on her hips and anger in her heart, confronts Glinda, asking why she didn’t tell her this in the first place. Glinda smiles and compassionately lets Dorothy know that she needs to walk through the dark, green forest to find her way back home. The moral being that, not unlike walking through the forest, we need to do the work that is not pleasant and too often scary to find our way home.

Life is Difficult

In his book, THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED, Scott Peck begins the first sentence with “Life is Difficult”. There is no doubt that this 3-word sentence is true. Netflix and other television movie platforms are filled with series and movies that exemplify this truth. People are addicted to them because we can relate and identify with the trials and tribulations we must go through as we struggle through the complexities of our journeys. Nothing good is easy to come by. We fight our way through, but no one escapes adversity. It’s part of the human condition. We choose our outcomes by our actions. Do we become a victim, a survivor, or a Phoenix, like the mythological bird that rises from the ashes? The choice is ours.

The fact is we are not alone. Some do not believe in free will; others do. There are theories for both beliefs. After 47 years of private practice as a psychotherapist, and now as a life and relationship coach and business mediator, I have both professional and personal experience that demonstrates we can change. I, for one, have changed. I have hundreds of emails, letters and texts from clients who have acknowledged the changes they have made due to the time spent with me in therapy and coaching. Read the online reviews if you have any doubts or concerns. Every time I receive a review, email, or letter regarding gratitude for the work we did, it reinforces my belief that change is possible even with life adversities, regrets, and losses.

Yes, it’s true. Life is difficult, and just when you think your conflict has been resolved, you turn the corner, and another emerges. Well, that’s life. The in-between times are filled with joy and gratitude. Nothing lasts forever. As we age, we learn that with a positive attitude, relationships, community, and love, nothing can destroy the human spirit unless we let it.

I am not a Pollyanna who believes in the Easter bunny. I know that life is filled with challenges, disappointments, and fears that have cause and reason. Being shy of one month before turning 86, I have seen it all in my clients, family, friends, and yes, myself. We all suffer. We all have many losses and lose sleep and feel at times that we are not going to survive another day, but we do. There are times that we want to throw in the towel; to give up, to collapse into defeat, and accept what life brings us. There are many ways of handling the sorrows that life imposes upon us. We have choices. Those who choose to give up because they can’t see any viable options will make the best choice that works for them with the resources they have at that time. There is no judgment or criticism.

Get Help!

As therapists and life coaches, we understand that happiness is rooted in connection and community. We need people! We need each other. If you don’t know how to create this for yourself, find a therapist or life coach to guide you through the rough times. Don’t try to do this on your own. You need a benign witness to hear and see you. Reach out for help. It’s there! You don’t have to suffer alone. The loneliness and madness in our culture today have taken a toll on all of us. Support from those who have the tools, skills, and resources to help you is there. Determination and faith are what are needed to make it happen. Make the choice that will support you at your time of need. Not unlike Dorothy, we all need to face our fears, confront our obstacles, and trust that there is a way out through the emotional gauntlet. See the help with a professional who knows the way through the eye of the needle. When a person decides to commit, the universe will cooperate!

If you’re interested, I suggest calling to schedule an appointment to discuss your needs. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.

If you are interested in my services, email, text, or call me: joanechilds@gmail.com, (954) 854-7764, www.joanechilds.com

Joan E Childs LCSW, Life and Relationship Coach and Business Mediator