The Process of Sharing Narratives in Counseling

Abstract

Previous research of narratives has emphasized the “cooperativeness” between the narrator and the listener within the narrative construction process. However, the actual process by which cooperativeness contributes to the sharing of narratives within the therapeutic setting is yet unclear. The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine the process by which the narrative constructed during counseling is shared, with a focus on the interactions between the parties involved. 5Five pairs of therapists and clients engaged in simulated counseling sessions, after which they were individually interviewed regarding their experiences of narrative sharing. The category network model yielded via GTA revealed three phases in the narrative sharing process (adapting to the situation, sharing, and post-sharing). Analysis of the storylines depicted transitions from binary relationships (Client-Therapist) to ternary relationships (Client-Narrative-Therapist), and suggests that in relation to narrative sharing, not only the act of sharing itself but also the clarification of the boundary between “Narratives shared” and “Narratives yet to be shared” may be therapeutic.