Conference Agenda

Persisting/recurring symptoms of pain/discomfort are often brought to therapy with the request to make meaning. Studies have shown that making meaning can benefit the immune system. Some type of inner dialogue is involved in this process. The present study sought to monitor the way clients talked of their persisting or recurring pain/discomfort symptoms and explore the process of meaning making as dialogic. Ten clients in various therapy approaches participated in the study. Information was collected through an interview and participants were then asked to write an externalization of the problem exercise as well as draw a picture of their pain symptom. A narrative analysis revealed common themes horizontally and vertically. Symptoms were viewed as metaphors of inner struggles appearing in stressful transition periods and having transgenerational meaning. Voices of pain were seen as motivating them to “move on” (promoters), in variety of voice tones (e.g. strict, soft). Findings indicate that clients can reflect on the notion of self as polyphonic, an idea that can help them make sense of pain symptoms. In terms of clinical implications, incorporating externalization of symptom, writing and drawing in therapy can help clients toward meaning making. Therapists should help clients match the caring content of pain voices with an accepting tone of voice.