The politics of making meaning: discourse analysis of a ‘postmodern’ interview

Abstract

Both constructivist and constructionist models of therapy seek to produce new meanings with clients and families. Critics have pointed out that these therapies may neglect to consider the political and embedded nature of meaning making. This paper describes a discourse analysis of a construction/uctivist interview. Three interlocking conversational strategies employed by the interviewer are identified: exteriority, the disciplining of narrative and locality. These strategies are examined in the light of their effects on the unfolding narrative in the session, both in a productive and a restrictive sense. The function of therapy theory and techniques in subjugating client narratives as well as providing processes for constructing new meaning is discussed.

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