Life design counseling: A study on client's operations for meaning construction

Cardoso, Paulo; Duarte, Maria Eduarda; Gaspar, Rui; Bernardo, Fátima; Janeiro, Isabel Nunes; Santos, Graça

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.12/5158

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Authors

Cardoso, Paulo

Duarte, Maria Eduarda

Gaspar, Rui

Bernardo, Fátima

Janeiro, Isabel Nunes

Santos, Graça

Abstract(s)

This study evaluated the adequacy of the micro-theory of client operations to explain meaning construction during Life Design Counseling. Four adolescents were interviewed about their second counseling session. Their recollections were stimulated through the replay of counseling videotapes. The resulting transcribed interviews were qualitatively analyzed. Results confirmed a sequence of client operations evolving from the symbolic representation of experience and reflexive self-examination towards making new realizations and revisioning self. Moreover, clients reported negative and positive session moments evidencing that clients' attention and activity during the session was not restricted to meaning construction operations. Practical implications for life design counseling are derived from the results and discussed.