Positive lexical choice : a bridge to hope through solution focused brief therapy.

Type of content
Theses / Dissertations
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Counselling
Degree name
Master of Counselling
Publisher
University of Canterbury
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
English
Date
2020
Authors
Pawson, Louise Ann White
Abstract

Hope is a contributing factor towards therapeutic change in counselling, and yet there is limited research on how hope is co-constructed between the counsellor and the client during a therapeutic session. This practice-based research draws on Snyder’s (2000) work on hope to explore how hope is co-constructed through Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) with one adolescent. Snyder describes hope as a goal-oriented approach requiring both client agency and pathways. This research project draws on a qualitative methodology underpinned by social constructionism. Data from one participant collected through video and audio recordings of two counselling sessions with the counsellor-researcher was utilised. Microanalysis was used for data analysis, enabling exploration of grounding sequences, therapist use of questions, lexical choice and discourse markers. Findings highlighted three phases; co-construction of goals, co-construction of agency and redefining futures. These phases, while identified within the data, were informed by Snyder’s Hope Theory and contributed to the understanding of how hope is co-constructed in counselling. Findings show a strong connection between positive lexical choice (PLC) and the co-construction of hope. In addition, the three components of goals, pathway and agency enable hope to be co- constructed collaboratively with the client. Further research exploring lexical choice across counselling theories would make further valuable contributions to therapists’ understanding of how hope is co-constructed in counselling.

Description
Citation
Keywords
Hope, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, SFBT, Microanalysis, School Guidance, Adolescents, Positive Lexical Choice, PLC, Formulations, Questions, Goals, Agency, Pathways, Counselling, Psychology, Therapy, Hope, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Microanalysis, School Guidance, Adolescents, Positive Lexical Choice,
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Rights
All Rights Reserved