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CHANGING EMOTION: THE USE OF THERAPEUTIC STORYTELLING
Author(s) -
Parker Trent S.,
Wampler Karen S.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of marital and family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.868
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1752-0606
pISSN - 0194-472X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2006.tb01597.x
Subject(s) - storytelling , valence (chemistry) , feeling , psychology , psychotherapist , context (archaeology) , affect (linguistics) , session (web analytics) , clinical psychology , social psychology , developmental psychology , narrative , communication , computer science , art , physics , literature , quantum mechanics , world wide web , paleontology , biology
Even though using metaphors in a therapeutic context is common, there are very few studies that address their effects. This study examines the effects of storytelling in therapy. After discussing a problem in a current relationship, 42 female participants were randomly assigned to receive either a story or psychoeducational information. Results indicated that both treatments were equally successful in reducing amounts of negative affect and negative feelings toward the relationship. In addition, each story was able to facilitate a change in emotional valence. Finally, participants saw no difference between the depth and smoothness of each session. Examples on using storytelling within different models of marriage and family therapy are provided.