Affective Processes of Joint Meaning-Making in Couple Therapy

In this chapter, we explore the processes through which the joint reconstruction of the problem takes place in couple therapy. The joint creation of new meanings in the clinical dialogue is considered to be a specific type of joint decision-making in the context of psychotherapy. Psychotherapy relies on conversations that promote the reconstruction of the clients’ problems and fosters a reformulation of their identity toward more inclusive narratives. Within couple and family therapy, contemporary approaches draw on the principles of dialogism and promote a responsive and collaborative therapist stance. However, there is little research on how these practices are carried out in actual sessions. In this chapter, the interactional processes through which the problem is jointly (re)constructed in one couple therapy session and the therapist’s role in this are examined. The analysis underscores the importance of the therapist’s affective responsiveness in facilitating narrative elaboration and emotional expression.