Background: In brief therapy (BT), aphorisms (As) have been considered a privileged element in therapeutic language. With a handful of words, they arouse emotions and different perspectives.
Theoretical proposal: In As, a specific structure—the implicit and explicit symmetry of opposites (SoO)—allows a surprise effect, which in turn allows a therapeutic effect. Therefore, a carefully selected SoO (based on psychological complementaries) underlies the desired therapeutic reframing, which can be identified as a core goal of the psychotherapeutic intervention.
Research question: Is it possible to identify As with therapeutic value in treating paranoid personality disorder (PPD) and high paranoid ideation (hPI) cases?
Method: Starting from an initial collection of 369 original As created on the spot in 2,335 BT sessions, As used during on-line psychotherapy on 55 patients with PPD and/or an hPI measured with the SCL-90-R were identified.
Results: Thirty-three As were selected and organised according to effective and ineffective strategies, the target of the BT intervention for PPD and hPI cases.
Keywords: aphorisms; brief therapy; paranoid personality disorder; proverbs; psychological opposites and complementaries; therapeutic communication.