Building Therapeutic Alliances in Aphasia Rehabilitation: Developing Relational Competencies Through Narrative...

Area of Science:

• Speech-language pathology
• Clinical psychology
• Narrative therapy

Background:

• Aphasia significantly impacts identity and psychosocial well-being.
• Effective rehabilitation requires strong relational competencies.
• Current training may overemphasize didactic methods over experiential learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how graduate clinicians develop relational competencies.
• To understand the role of narrative interventions in fostering these skills.
• To identify key themes in clinicians' experiences facilitating the My Story Project.

Main Methods:

• Reflexive thematic analysis of focus group data.
• 11 graduate students in speech-language pathology participated.
• Participants facilitated the My Story Project, a virtual narrative intervention for individuals with aphasia.

Main Results:

• Four themes emerged: Opening Space for Stories, Discovering Their Story, Holding Space for Emotion, and Building Story Partnerships.
• Relational competencies developed through authentic, person-centered relationships.
• Clinicians learned to see beyond the diagnosis and embrace the whole person.

Conclusions:

• Relational competencies are crucial for person-centered aphasia rehabilitation.
• Experiential learning within therapeutic relationships is vital for developing these skills.
• Clinical training should prioritize direct practice in authentic relationships.