Reflection of Meaning and Interpretation/Reframe

Interpretation/Reframing

Helping client look for new and more useful perspective

1st step is to listen to the client story or problem and see how they make sense of, or thinks about the issue

More directive than reflection of meaning

May come from observations by the counselor or theoretical orientations, or they may link critical ideas together

Reflection of Meaning and Interpretation/Reframing

Eliciting and Reflecting Client Meaning

Viktor Frankl's Logotherapy

He pointed out the importance of a life philosophy that enables us to transcend suffering and find meaning in our existence

His famous book, Mans Search for Meaning, shares that finding positive meaning in the depth of despair was vital to keeping him alive

Nietzsche: "He who has a why will find a way"

Logotherapists search for positive meaning that underlie behavior, thought, and action

Understanding the client is the 1st step

Critical life events such as illness, loss of parent or loved one, accident, or divorce often force people to encounter deeper meanings of issues

Say back to the client their exact key meaning and value words

It becomes complicated when meanings or values conflict

Discernment

Identifying life mission and goals

"Sifting through our interior and exterior experiences to determine their origin"

It is a process where clients can focus on visioning their future as a journey into meaning

Reflection of meaning

Looks like a paraphrase but goes beyond what a client says

Often use the words meaning, values, vision, goals, deeper understanding

Eliciting meaning often follows reflection

Examples of Interpretation/Reframing

Reflection of meaning examples

Skills of Interpretation/Reframing

" I hear you, you just keep going. The heart attack is very scary, but it also provides you with an opportunity to look at what you've been doing and what you want to do with your life."

There are risks, interpretation/reframing can be either additive or subtractive

"So you have been thinking about your lifestyle, but realize how hard it would be to change. Tell me more about your thinking about lifestyle an pressure."

"I hear you, you just kept going. Could you share what it feels like to keep going on and what it means to you?"

" Charlis, I hear that keeping going and persistence have been a key family value that remains very important to you. "Hanging in" is what you are good at. Could we focus now on how that value around persistence and keeping going on relates to your rehabilitation?"

Positive reframe from personal experience

"You feel that coming out as gay led you to lose your job, and you blame who you are. You seem more confident and sure of yourself. It will take time, but I see you growing through this difficult situation."

You can also use a theoretical construct

You need to respect clients' frame of reference before interpreting/reframing their words

Client Change Scale/focusing

The value of interpretation/reframing depends on the clients' reaction to it

How does the client react to the interpretation according to the CCS

By focusing on gender or multicultural issues you expand client perspectives

Enables clients to think differently about themselves, their feelings, and their stories

You facilitate client's own reframing of old stories to new and more positive stories