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Narrative: Language, Culture, and Identity (Chapter 6)
Objectives for this chapter
Recognize stories as a core element in relationships. Identify ways in which narratives are part of positive and
negative relational experiences. Differentiate among ways of describing language in
relationships. Use language-oriented concepts to understand couple and
family issues. Describe and explain several language-based interventions. Recognize language-based components in popular family
counseling approaches.
Introduction
Narrative theories and techniques focus on human use of language—internal and external
Many academic disciplines have contributed ideas to this discussion
The Narrative theme crosses over into the other 4 themes in many ways
A Case Illustration: Bruce and Jessica Watson
This case shows a couple in crisis, trapped by a negative relationship story
The presenting story
Bruce was ashamed and confused by his own behavior His cutting was described as an obsession, impossible to stop
once he started thinking about it Jessica was confused—she thought of Bruce as smarter and
more capable than she was Jessica was trying to be supportive, but she too felt “wounded”
and powerless.
An alternative story
Michelle invoked magic, casting Bruce in the role of a child hero who is sacrificing himself to save the world.
This new story:– acknowledged the clients’ individual and shared realities,
including themes of cutting, personal inadequacy, over-responsibility, mutual dependency, and dread.
– described the problem as something outside Bruce.– defined the problem in terms that called for shared energy
and action.
Narrative changes
Bruce and Jessica began to identify the “wounded feeling” , known as ‘WF’, as something outside them, something powerful that threatened their well-being
They began to see that WF had allies that worked against their relationship
With a common enemy, they pulled together to identify goals, act stronger, and celebrate strengths
Theory and Research
The core concepts of Narrative have to do with meaning, understanding, and collaboration
Internal and interpersonal language
Cognition can be seen as behavior Cognition can also be seen as simply representing reality--I’m
perceiving a threat, and therefore I am truly being threatened Constructivism emphasizes the different ways in which people
frame their experiences:– Frames Part I: Distinctions and associations– Frames Part II: Attributions and accounts– Frames Part III: Locus of control– Frames Part IV: Concepts of self and other
Language systems and social construction
Maturana & Varela (biologists) went beyond the individual “constructing” his/her world. For them, language groups were different “species” with different realities
This is very similar to Berger & Luckmann’s view:– “Things” only come into existence when they are labeled
Paradigms and discourses are shared descriptions of reality Some kinds of identities are shared:
– Gender identity– Sexual identity– Ethnicity, race, and class
Narrative
Narrative co-telling is a collaborative process(speaker plus listener)(see next slide)
– Relational identity--we shape each other– Negative identities and dominant discourses--we can be trapped in
descriptions that are disabling Narratives can be analyzed from many perspectives
(deconstruction)– Stability, Progressive, Regressive narratives (see AA slide)– Narrative smoothing--does it fit together?
Dialogue and dialectics– Tensions can be interpersonal– Tensions may be built into the discourse
Narrative co-construction
Shared experiences provide a basis for co-narration of identities
Identities are defined by narrative elements No two narratives of the same experience are identical As co-narrators tell or retell a story, they negotiate the
perspective and language that will dominate the account Audiences validate narrative elements or offer additional ones Previously co-narrated stories tend to stabilize identities New audiences offer the potential to destabilize identities New experiences provide new narrative opportunities and
therefore offer opportunities for identity change
Alcoholics Anonymous—A narrative approach?
In AA, people learn to:– Tell their own stories and witness others’ stories– Cast Alcohol as a player in the story, a hostile force that
threatens their lives (externalizing)– Focus on the times when they have succeeded, not on the
times when they have failed (a progressive narrative)
The Process of Counseling with Couples and Families
Narrative traditions require listening to, and intervening with, both literal and relational meanings
Engaging I: entering a language world
Suspending judgment Hearing the clients’ language Entering their experiential world
Engaging II: entering a unique intersection of discourses
(People need help recognizing the extent and nature of their differences)
Some specialized tools for helping them to recognize differences include:
– Group preparation for couple sessions (culture circles)– Internalized other questioning– Reflecting teams and witnessing groups– Disengaging from the verbal realm (see Satir slide)
Disengaging from the verbal (Satir’s depiction of styles)
Beginning a dynamic assessment process
(A separate assessment phase may not exist) Context (discursive environments) Identities, roles, and scripts Internal and external attributions Story styles and types Metaphor Keywords and themes Unique outcomes
Keywords and themes
Binaries (generally recognized, e.g. gender & sexual orientation)
Predetermined themes (the professional’s perspective, e.g. power)
Ad-hoc
Intervening: changing representations
Rethinking--similar to individual-level cognitive behavioral work, requires teaching, heightened awareness and intentionality
– Socratic questioning– Guided discovery
Reframing Word substitution Metaphor and ritual
Intervening: collaborative retelling
Conversational style, e.g. Harlene Anderson’s “not knowing” Deconstructing dominant discourses--more direct Restorying
– Solution-Focused Therapy– Externalizing problems
Re-membering Stories that reassure Collaborative ritual
Assessing effectiveness
Language: key words, narrative themes, story types Ability to engage with others across discursive differences Clients’ own perceptions of change
Closure
Clients decide when they are ready to end the process Returning for updates and processing life changes is common
Cautions, concerns, and new directions
Indirect methods always risk contributing to unanticipated changes
Change cannot be promised This rapidly changing arena requires constant attention as
ideas evolve