Along with other affective‐based methods, such as sensitivity training, fantasy, and simulation games, poetic and figurative language may be systematically incorporated into counselor education curricula to help sensitize counselor trainees to a greater understanding of themselves and others. The author explores five practical ways of doing this and explains benefits of the approach. The article concludes that a knowledge of the poetic may facilitate counselor‐client communication and interaction, complement other counseling techniques, and help in counselor‐client problem so