Witnessing stories: Definitional Ceremonies in Narrative Therapy with adults who stutter

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Therapeutic Interventions
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Narrative therapy, developed by White & Epston, addresses power dynamics influencing lives.
• It challenges problem-saturated narratives by externalizing issues, fostering alternative stories.
• Definitional ceremonies with outsider witnesses are key to facilitating change in narrative therapy.

Observation:

• This paper details definitional ceremonies within narrative therapy for stuttering.
• A specific definitional ceremony involving a woman who stutters and her family was analyzed.
• Interpretative phenomenological and Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenological analyses were employed.

Findings:

• Stuttering itself was not the primary problem; its impact, particularly bullying experiences, emerged as a dominant theme.
• Definitional ceremonies enabled the client to present a preferred self, forming a basis for a new narrative and identity.
• Analysis identified themes for therapeutic reflection and discussion.

Implications:

• Definitional ceremonies can empower clients to construct preferred narratives and revise their identities.
• The process highlights identity as a social and public achievement.
• This therapeutic approach offers a framework for understanding and addressing the impact of stuttering.