Abstract
Some of the epistemological consequences of adopting the narrative point of view in psychotherapy are explored. Attempts to apply principles and norms from the philosophy of science to psychotherapy are criticized, since psychotherapy is not a science, but a technique. In addition, those models, related to the acquisition of knowledge, that consider that knowledge could increase by apposition without transforming the subject who is knowing are discussed. Natural science and hermeneutic metaphors are not suitable for understanding the practice of psychotherapy. Traditionally, the interpretation of symptoms or problems to solve has been the main instrument in therapy. In other words, the therapist tries to look for the truth hidden under the symptom, which then becomes a sign. Our proposition is to substitute these metaphors for the paradigm of text commentary. Text commentary, instead of providing a unique truth, provides a set of meanings suggested by a commentary. Characteristics that allow one to distinguish a good and a bad commentary, and implications of the paradigm described for the training of psychotherapists, are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Althusser, L. (1970). Freud y Lacan. Barcelona: Anagrama.
Barthes, R. (1970). S/Z. Paris: du Seuil.
Beck, A. T., Rush, A. J., Shaw, B. F., Emery, G. (1979). Cognitive therapy of depression: a treatment manual. New York: Guilford Press.
Botella, L., Pacheco, M., & Herrero, O. (1999). Pensamiento constructivo y psicoterapia. Revista de Psicoterapia, 37, 7–28.
Braunstein, N. A. (1980). Psiquiatriáa, teoriáa del sujeto, Psicoanálisis (hacia Lacan). Mexico City: Siglo XXI.
Caro, L. (1999). Un enfoque postmoderno y constructivista sobre la salud mental y la psicoterapia. Revista de Psicoterapia, 37, 29–47.
Cushman, P. (1995). Constructing the self, constructing America. Boston: Addison-Wesley.
Efran, J., Lukens, M., & Lukens, R. (1990). Language, Structure and Change. New York: Norton.
Eysenck, H. J. (1952). The effects of psychotherapy: An evaluation. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 16, 319–324.
Fernández Liria, A. (1993). Investigación en psicoterapia (I): El pájaro Dodo en el umbral del siglo XXI. Psiquiatria Pública, 5, 354–362.
Fernández Liria, A. (1994). Investigación en psicoterapia (II): Especificidad e integración. Psiquiatriá Pública, 6, 3–14.
Fischer, J. (1995). Uniformity myths in eclectic and integrative psychotherapy. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 5, 41–56.
Foucault, M. (1963). Naissance de la clinique. Paris: Press Universitaires de France.
Gergen, K. J. (1985). The social constructivism movement in modern psychology. American Psychologist, 40.
Gill, M. M. (1994). Psychoanalysis in transition. New York: Basic Books.
Gold, J. R. (1996). Key concepts in psychotherapy integration. New York: Plenum Press.
Gonsalves, O. (1994). Cognitive narrative psychotherapy: The hermeneutic construction of alternative neanings. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 8(2), 105–125.
Greenberg, L. E., Rice, L., & Elliot, R. (1993). Process-experiential therapy: Facilitating emotional change. New York: Gilford Press.
Guidano, V. F. (1991). The self in process: Toward a postrationalist cognitive therapy. New York: Guilford Press.
Hoffman, L. (1987). Fundamentos de la terapia familiar. Fondo de Cultura Económica.
Hoffman, L. (1990). Constructing realities: An ars of lenses. Fam Process, 29, 2–12.
Klerman, G. L., Rousanville, B., Chevron, E., Neu, C., & Weissman, M. M. (1984). Interpersonal psychotherapy of depression. New York: Basic Books.
Lambert, M. J., & Bergin, A. E. (1994). The effectiveness of psychotherapy. In A. E. Bergin & S. L. Garfield (Eds.), Handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change. New York: Wiley.
Lázaro Carreter, F., & Correa Calderón, E. (1990). Cómo se comenta un texto literario (28th ed.) Madrid: Cá tedra.
Lazarus, A. A. (1995). Different types of eclecticism and integration: Let's be aware of the dangers. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 5, 27–39.
Linares, J. L. (1996). Identidad y narrativa. Barcelona: Paidós.
Luborsky, L., Barber, J. P., & Diguer, L. (1992). The meanings of narratives told during psychotherapy: The fruits of a new observational unit. Psychotherapy Research, 2(4), 277–290.
Luborsky, L., Singer, B., & Luborsky, L. (1975). Comparative studies of psychotherapy. Is it true that “everyone has won and all must have prizes”? Archives of General Psychiatry, 32, 995–1007.
McNamee, S., & Gergen, K. J. (1996). La terapia como construccion social. Paidos. (texto inglés original de 1992).
O'Hara, M. (1999). ¿No habrá ilegado la hora de deconstruir el construccionismo en psicologiá clínica? Revista de Psicoterapia, 37, 83–105.
Omer, H., & Alon, N. (1997). Constructing therapeutic narratives. Northvale; NJ: Jason Aronson.
Rennie, D. L. (1995). On the rhetorics of social science. Let's not conflict natural science and social science. The Humanistic Psychologist, 23, 321–332.
Schafer, R. (1976). A new language for psychoanalysis. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
Schafer, R. (1983). The analytic attitude. New York: Basic Books.
Sluzki, C. E. (1992). Transformations: A blueprint for narrative changes in therapy. Family Process, 31, 217–223.
Spence, D. (1982). Narrative truth and historical truth. New York: Norton.
Stacombe, J., & White, S. (1999). ¿Una psicoterapia sin fundamentos? La hermené utica, el discurso y el fin de la certidumbre. Revista de Psicoterapia, 37, 61–82.
Stricker, G. (1997). Are science and practice commensurable? American Psychologist, 52, 442–448.
Tizón, J. L. (1992). Una propuesta de conceptualizació n de las té cnicas de psicoterapia. Revista de la Asociation Española de Neuropsiquiatriá, 12, 283–294.
Villegas, M. (1995). La construcció n narrativa de la experiencia en psicoterapia. Revista de Psicoterapia, 22–23, 5–20.
Vogel, D. (1995). Narrative perspectives in theory and therapy. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 7, 243–261. (trad cast. (1995) Perspectivas narrativas en la teoria y en la práctica. Revista de Psicoterapia, 6(24–24), 21–38.
White, M., & Epson, D. (1990). Narrative means to therapeutic ends. New York: Norton.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Liria, A.F. From Interpretation to Commentary: Truth and Meaning in Psychotherapy. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration 10, 325–334 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009405230829
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009405230829