Interpretation in the therapy based on M.Bowen's theory: conversation analysis

Abstract

The article presents preliminary results of the study of interaction in therapy based on M. Bowen's family system theory. We are guided by the work of Canadian researchers of the University of Calgary. These researches began to study various aspects of psychotherapeutic dialogue using the conversation analysis method systematically. The problem of our research can be formulated as follows: how does a client accept and "assimilate" the interpretation offered by therapist. This article examines a fragment of interaction that the client has assessed as useful for him and empowering him to move towards preferred changes. An excerpt of the session of family system therapist A. Varga is analyzed. The authors describe the process of "assimilating" interpretation given by therapist in step-by-step fashion. Intonation of speech on the different stages of dialogue and turn-by-turn organization of the conversation is analyzed. The results show that client in this fragment can be considered as a "co-author" of a new understanding of his life situation that emerges in therapy process.

Keywords

• bowen's family system theory
• interpretation in the therapy
• conversation analysis
• therapeutic interaction study