Narratives and lively metaphors: Hermeneutics as a way of listening

Abstract

Therapists need to keep in mind the philosophical bases of their work. Paul Ricoeur's work on hermeneutic philosophy can cast light upon our understanding of the client as she develops her meanings and narratives of her life. Clients' narratives are polysemic: they carry multiple meanings. The task of the therapist is to both bear in mind the multiplicity of narrative meanings within the client's story and as appropriate to facilitate the client in doing the same. This is explored through a case study. The construction of theory as polysemic also provides a novel way to consider theory integration.

Narrative und lebendige Metaphern: Hermeneutik als eine Form des Zuhörens

Therapeuten müssen sich der philosophischen Grundlage ihrer Arbeit bewußt bleiben. Paul Ricoeurs Arbeit zu hermeneutischer Philosophie kann unser Verständnis der Klientperson erhellen, wie diese die persönlichen Bedeutungen und die Narrative ihres Lebens entwickelt. Die Narrative von Klienten sind polysemisch: Sie tragen vielfältige Bedeutungen. Die Aufgabe des Therapeuten ist sowohl die Vielfalt der narrativen Bedeutungen innerhalb der Klientenerzählung im Kopf zu behalten und gleichzeitig auch dem Klienten zu ermöglichen, diese Vielfalt ebenso zu sehen.Eine Falldarstellung erläutert das. Die Konstruktion der Theorie als polysemisch liefert auch eine neue Art der Theorie-Integration.

Vívidos relatos y metáforas: hermenéutica como una forma de escuchar

Los terapeutas deben tener en cuenta las bases filosóficas de su trabajo. La obra de Paul Ricoeur sobre la filosofía hermenéutica puede arrojar luz sobre nuestra comprensión del cliente como desarrolla los significados y narrativas de su vida. Las narrativas de los clientes son polisémicas: llevan múltiples significados. La tarea del terapeuta es tener en cuenta la multiplicidad de significados de las narrativas dentro de la historia del cliente y, según corresponda, facilitar al cliente para que haga lo mismo. Exploramos esto mediante un caso de estudio. La construcción de la teoría como polisémica también proporciona una novedosa manera de considerar la integración de la teoría.

Récits et métaphores vivants : L'Herméneutique comme une façon d'écouter

Les thérapeutes doivent garder à l'esprit les fondements philosophiques de leur travail. Les travaux de Paul Ricœur sur la philosophie herméneutique peuvent éclairer notre compréhension du client, alors qu'il développe les significations et récits de sa vie. Les récits des clients sont polysémiques: ils portent des significations multiples. La tâche du thérapeute est à la fois de garder à l'esprit la multiplicité des significations narratives au sein de l'histoire du client et, le cas échéant, de faciliter le client à faire de même. Ceci est exploré à travers une étude de cas. La construction de la théorie comme polysémique fournit également une nouvelle façon d'envisager l'intégration théorique.

As narrativas e as metáforas vivas – a hermenêutica enquanto forma de escuta

Os terapeutas têm de ter em conta as bases filosóficas do seu trabalho. O trabalho de Paul Ricoeur acerca da filosofia hermenêutica pode lançar uma luz sobre a compreensão do cliente, à medida que ele desenvolve os seus significados e narrativas de vida. As narrativas do cliente são polissémicas – possuem múltiplos significados. A tarefa do terapeuta é ter em conta a multiplicidade dos significados das narrativas que fazem parte da história do cliente e facilitar de forma adequada o cliente a fazer o mesmo. Trata-se da exploração de um estudo de caso. A construção da teoria polissémica também proporciona uma nova forma de considerar a integração teórica.

Keywords:

• Hermeneutics
• integration
• metaphor
• narrative
• philosophy
• polysemy
• Ricoeur
• truth

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to all of those who read versions of this paper, and have advised me on it. In particular I am grateful to my client “Eitan,” who gave his permission to use the material in which we had shared, and then engaged enthusiastically with a draft of the paper, while helping me to understand further the hermeneutics of Jewish names and naming.

I wish to thank my immediate colleagues at the University of Warwick Counselling Service for sharing with me in the exploration of hermeneutical philosophy during the course of a departmental training day.

Notes

1. All names have been changed, except that of Naomi. Her name is retained to fit the multiple references made clear in the text. The significance of the name, Eitan, is roughly the same as the client's actual name.

2. Sephardic Jews are Spanish and middle eastern in origin, while Ashkenazis are European. There can be wide cultural diversity and even real antipathy between the two groups.