Considerations for a discourse of collaboration in counseling

Abstract

In this paper we consider a discourse of collaborative counseling practice drawing from developments in discourse and social constructionist theory. Collaboration, as we shall refer to it, speaks to negotiating and hopefully sharing initiatives, knowledge and judgment in counselor-client dialogues. However, such negotiations and sharing occur within perceived constraints associated with institutional and professional accountabilities, and are related to unequal powers seen as exercisable by clients and counselors. With these possibilities and constraints in mind, we articulate a discourse of collaborative practice based on counselors and clients sharing content and process expertise in areas often considered the sole prerogative of the counselor.

Significant Conversations or Reduced Relational Capacity? Exploring Couple and Family Therapists' Expectations for Including a Client Feedback Procedure

“…Collaborative practices involve shared intention, relational commitments and a dynamic and reciprocal interaction. Throughout conversations, both the therapist and client contribute to ongoing collaboration (Strong, Sutherland & Ness, ). Contextual understanding of each problem and the idea that every therapeutic encounter is unique are central to developing meaning and understanding (Anderson, , ; Swift, Callahan & Vollmer, ) and to facilitating the recovery process (Borg, , Borg, Karlsson & Kim, ).…”

“…Labels such as 'clinical range' and 'normal range' were identified as psychiatric expert language. Strong et al (2011) regards expert discourse as a barrier to collaborative practices. However Sundet (2012) showed that a structured feedback instrument may facilitate therapeutic conversations in which the starting point is generated by the formality of the scales and in which the continuation of the conversation involves therapeutic hunches, intuition and relational skills.…”

Older people and their care partners’ experiences of living with mental health needs: a focus on collaboration and cooperation

“…Collaboration is founded in human relationships, developing dialogues and working in partnerships (Strong et al . ). As we see it, the principles underpinning The Coordination Reform strategy are consistent with person‐centred values and principles.…”

“Walking alongside:” collaborative practices in mental health and substance use care

“…In the current mental health care context, there is a call for inter-professional collaborative relationships and practices to embrace the active participation of service users and their families in the process [ 2 , 3 ]. At the core of these collaborative relationships are people’s competence and capability in listening, taking each other seriously, and respecting the perspectives of others concerning both the relationship and the partnership in which they are involved [ 1 , 4 – 7 ]. Making collaboration succeed in mental health care requires a free flow of information and sharing of feedback among all parties so that they are on track with the changing intentions that often arise [ 8 ].…”

“…In the research literature that focuses on services and practices that keep the person at the center of decision-making, a number of essential principles are espoused. These include working with sometimes competing beliefs, values, and priorities; power and power balancing; engagement strategies; consistency of care delivery; relationship competencies; role blurring; and negotiated decision-making [ 6 , 7 , 9 ]. These are all complex concepts that are embedded in professional ideology and individual aspirations, and traversing these complexities can be considered key to determining good collaborative practices and dialogical conversations [ 1 , 7 ].…”