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Blame, responsibility and systemic neutrality: a discourse analysis methodology to the study of family therapy problem talk

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Journal of Family Therapy

Published online on

Abstract

In this article we present discourse analysis of initial systemic family therapy sessions, focusing on family members' responses to therapists' attempts to introduce a systemically neutral, relational perspective on their troubles, by means of circular questioning and the final team message. The article draws from a qualitative study of family therapy problem talk with a sample of nine videotaped first and second sessions with six families and four therapists. The sessions were transcribed verbatim and subjected to discourse analysis following the discursive action model. Our analysis indicates that family members may decode the therapists' discursive moves as attributing blame or responsibility to them and engage in further blaming of the identified patient. We conclude by raising the implications of the present research study for the latent attributional work in clinical practice. We also stress the potential of discourse analysis methodology for studying blaming actions and for enhancing reflexivity about our models and practices. Practitioner points Family members may decode therapists' attempts for introducing a systemically neutral perspective as allocating blame to them for the presenting problem(s). Practitioners should be reflexive about their potentially blaming discursive contributions in therapeutic dialogue. Discourse analysis methodology can enhance clinicians' reflexivity about their contributions in therapeutic dialogue. 责备, 责任, 和系统性中立:针对家庭治疗问题谈话研究的话语分析方法 本文针对家庭成员对治疗师在尝试通过循环提问和最后小组信息的方式, 对他们的问题带入一种系统中立、关系性的视角时候的反应进行了话语分析。研究数据来自一项关于家庭治疗问题谈话的质性研究, 样本为来自6个家庭和4个咨询师的9段第一次和第二次会面时的录像。这些录像被逐字转录后根据话语行动模型进行了话语分析。我们的分析显示, 家庭成员可能会把咨询师们的推论性话语译解为对他们的责备或是责任推卸, 并进一步责备指认病人。最后, 我们指出这篇文章对临床实践中潜在归因工作的启示。我们还强调了话语分析方法在研究责备行为和加强对我们的模型和实践的反思中的潜力。 对实务工作者的启示 治疗师引入系统中立视角的尝试可能会被家庭成员理解为治疗师在就问题责备他们。 治疗师应该对治疗性对话中潜在的责备推论归因进行反思。 话语分析法可以加强临床工作者对其在治疗性谈话中所起作用的反思性。 关键词:问题谈话;系统性家庭治疗;系统性中立;责任;责备和责任归因;话语分析。