Discursive Approaches to Clinical Research

Abstract

As therapists, our tools are our discursive performance. But, how do we know what our actions accomplish? When we talk about such practices as collaboration, co-construction, transparency, and gender and cultural equality, how are these constructs performed, and what consequences are achieved? While one’s goal for integrity of ideology and practice may be sincere, we need to reflect upon the following question: “How does our ‘talk about the talk’ of therapy match our discursive performances achieved in session?” In this chapter we will present some ideas about discursive approaches to clinical research. Several analytical methods will be presented that can be used to consider how talk manages, maintains, creates, and challenges the construction of identity and social interaction, and key differences and tensions between these discursive methods will be highlighted. In particular, we note how these methodological tensions are similar to tensions between various discursive therapy approaches, and reflect epistemological choices made by researchers and practitioners. Finally, implications of discursive research for practitioners, supervisors/educators, and researchers, as well as potential concerns involved with this type of research are also provided.