Publication Date

2013

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Department

School for Social Work

Keywords

Storytelling-Therapeutic use, Child psychotherapy, Storytelling, Narrative therapy, Therapy, Children

Abstract

This study was a qualitative study that asked clinicians from any discipline to describe how they use storytelling in their clinical practices. Two primary research questions were addressed; the first being to ascertain whether or not clinicians are using storytelling and the second question was to learn how they are using this technique in practice. 13 subjects responded to an on-line electronic survey that was distributed using a snowball method of sampling. Several themes emerged through the narratives of the participants regarding how they use storytelling in their practices. These themes were: Conceptualization of storytelling; Choices of implementation; Content of stories; Importance of narrative; Population choices. The findings of the research revealed that all 13 clinicians believed there are benefits to using storytelling in therapy with children, however there was significant variation in the conceptualization and application of therapeutic storytelling reported among the study participants, as well population choices deemed appropriate to receive a therapeutic storytelling technique. Participants reported benefits and obstacles to using storytelling in therapy with children. The research indicates social work graduate curricula should include information on the effective uses of storytelling in therapy, and evidence-based treatment research into storytelling would benefit the field of social work, as clinicians would be better informed as to the techniques they choose to employ.

Language

English

Comments

iv, 59 p. Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 52-54)

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