Self-Narratives: The Construction of Meaning in Psychotherapy

摘要: Assessing the Integration of Self Self-Narratives: The Construction Meaning in Psychotherapy Hubert J. M. Hermans and Els Hermans-Jansen. New York: Guilford Press, 305 pp., $40.00 (hardback). Hermans-Jansen have written a practical creative guide to instruct psychotherapists about self-narratives-stories that people tell significant events their lives-and how they can be used as source understanding client's experiences guiding counseling process. authors expertly integrated theory, methodology clinical application based on assumptions (a) actively create meaning own other's behavior (b) psychotherapy is collaborative effort reconstruct unhealthy patterns thinking more adaptive ways. note clients' narratives provide organization for ongoing, complex lives with each event being influenced by preceding influencing following ones. They also point out context definition social context. Consequently, thoughts, feelings, actions any person only understood relationship relevant others who are coconstructing reality often unpredictable Furthermore, because so much information not directly knowable, individuals guess what uncertain. And when faced change-particularly unexpected change-he or she spontaneously imagines possible plots, rehearses potential dialogues, organizes thematic emotions consistent his her stories past, present, future. assume content these cognitive constructions exerts influence subsequent events, beliefs. Based narratives, authors' suggest self may conceived "an organized process valuations." In words, this valuation emphasizes ... historical nature human experience implies spatiotemporal orientation: A present therefore oriented from specific time space past organizational aspect person, orienting different aspects situation through self-reflection, creates composite whole which differentially weighted, (p. 14) anything identify unit accompanied varying degrees positive (pleasant), negative (unpleasant), ambivalent (both pleasant unpleasant emotion. It essentially goal clienttherapist interaction discover units (for example, influential less influential) evaluate affective consequences configuration valuations. developed systematic constructivist method client self-exploration-the Self-Confrontation Method. Clients asked respond few straightforward questions persons, experiences, circumstances future them. series valuations then constructed words (with assistance therapist). For valuation, rate relevance 16 adjectives high low theoretically reflect four domains valuation: (1) self-enhancement, (2) attachment others, (3) affect, (4) affect. therapist asks "general" "ideal" ratings adjectives. Once steps taken, an assessment term "manifest" level self-functioning has been completed. summarizes organizing matrix listed, followed scores …