CoCAL -- Constructive Conversation Analysis: Applications to Therapeutic Settings (White Paper)

Abstract

This paper presents theory and practice of Constructive Conversation Analysis, when applied into therapeutic settings—such as psychotherapeutic, counseling and assessment sessions, client-therapist interactions or even client’s written memoirs. In particular, through the individuation of the linguistic construction, it is possible to put in evidence the felicity conditions of the speech act and hence to facilitate the setting itself, e.g., obtaining conversations free from obstacles and misunderstandings. The results of the analysis performed by the linguist let the therapist to assess—or repair—the therapeutic alliance with the client in order to let emerge insights, ‘good hours’, restructurations, more quickly and precisely. Finally, if applied to more case studies, e.g., different clients, it can improve the therapist’s conversational style in the therapeutic interaction as well as the comprehension of clients’ memoirs.