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Discursive Ethics in Therapeutic Encounters

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Therapy as Discourse

Part of the book series: The Language of Mental Health ((TLMH))

Abstract

In this chapter, we link ethical practice and discursive theory and research and introduce discursive ethics of practice as a therapeutic concept and orientation embedded within a postmodern or discursive worldview. Central to our discursive view of ethical practice is an empirical focus on how therapist and client negotiate the meanings and conversational process. A discursive perspective helps situate collaboration in social interaction and envision it as a joint and context-bound accomplishment of clients and therapists. We explore the conversational practices of therapists co-constructing meaning and using their expertise collaboratively with clients. We conclude with implications of discursive ethics for therapy practice.

We would like to thank Eleftheria Tseliou and Peter Muntigl for their helpful comments on an earlier draft of this chapter.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada

    Olga Smoliak

  2. Educational Studies in Counselling Psychology, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Tom Strong

  3. University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK

    Robert Elliott

Authors
  1. Olga Smoliak
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  2. Tom Strong
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  3. Robert Elliott
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Correspondence to Olga Smoliak .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada

    Olga Smoliak

  2. University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Tom Strong

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Smoliak, O., Strong, T., Elliott, R. (2018). Discursive Ethics in Therapeutic Encounters. In: Smoliak, O., Strong, T. (eds) Therapy as Discourse. The Language of Mental Health. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93067-1_9

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