Chapter 6 focuses on the development of a “thinking mind” in psychotherapy, emphasizing the limitations many patients face in accessing their unconscious and engaging in metaphorical thinking. It highlights how early caregivers’ lack of interest in a child’s developing mind can hinder this process, sometimes to the extent of them becoming “obstructing objects”. Trauma, including subtle forms such as parental dominance, can impede the growth of independent thought by fostering identification with the aggressor’s mind. The origins of a thinking mind are explored. The role of metaphors in expanding a patient’s capacity to think beyond concrete reality, accessing imagination and enriching their inner and outer lives is illustrated. A vignette demonstrates how early family relationships can inhibit the development of personal agency and career aspirations.