Client narratives: a theoretical perspective.
The role of subjective client narratives in health care represents a clinical and therapeutic tool, useful in complementing objective, scientific data. Of particular interest to mental health practitioners is the role narratives play as a therapeutic tool to guide clinical practice. This paper lays a foundation for understanding the importance of narrative in the psychotherapeutic process. It provides a brief overview of narrative theory and methods of structural analysis in order to provide a theoretical approach that can be utilized by nurses to address clients' needs.
University of Missouri Applied Language Institute, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
Deborah Dysart
DD
Gale
Ann M
AM
Mitchell
Linda
L
Garand
Susan
S
Wesner
D001242:Assertiveness; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D033262:Narration; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research / Q000379:methods; D009742:Nursing Theory; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012945:Social Values