Listening to Life Stories
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Listening to Life Stories: A New Approach to Stress Intervention in Health Care is our engaging and practical book about the Life Narrative Interview. It reviews the clinical rationale for conducting the LNI with medical patients, the research that supports its use, examples of questions to ask, and complete information about how to conduct it. |
From the Preface
Our patients are continually trying to tell us stories about their lives. As health care professionals, our response typically runs the gamut from amusement to irritation, as we try to shift them to our clinical agenda. Yet the movement toward patient-centered and holistic approaches to health care has awakened in many of us an awareness that these personal stories are telling us something significant and that we ought to be paying attention to them. But we are not quite sure what to do when these moments come along. We don’t know what clinical purpose the process of telling and listening to stories can serve.
In writing this book, we believe we are bringing good news to our fellow health care professionals. The news is simple: stories are important, they should be encouraged, and they can be used to help patients cope with stress. The goal of this book is to equip the reader with the knowledge to recognize these therapeutic opportunities and the skills necessary to guide the storytelling process so that patients are strengthened by their own stories.
The premise of our life narrative interview is that during times of stress, we need to be reminded of the positive aspects of our life, especially our strengths and resources. Being reminded serves as a shortterm buffer against the feelings of vulnerability and helplessness that so often accompany medical illness and treatment. We have found that each individual, regardless of the misfortune in his or her life, has positive experiences that can be drawn upon for this purpose. We all have our high points, defining moments, and finest hours. This book emphasizes the skills necessary to keep the focus of the interview on these positive experiences.
The other key premise is that the listener has a key role in the storytelling process. In a very real sense, stories are “co-created” by teller and listener. The storyteller (the medical patient) constantly observes the listener (the medical caregiver) for subtle and not-so-subtle signs of interest and lack of interest, acceptance and nonacceptance. A responsive listener will inspire patients to tell meaningful stories and validate the personal attributes revealed in those stories...
We love a good story, and our patients have some of the best stories around. Listening to them not only helps our patients but enriches our own lives.
We have also written Life Narrative Interviewing: A Manual for Interviewers. This manual focuses on the interviewing techniques that we write about, and is a great tool for those wanting to learn the practical skills needed to do a Life Narrative Interview.
Our patients are continually trying to tell us stories about their lives. As health care professionals, our response typically runs the gamut from amusement to irritation, as we try to shift them to our clinical agenda. Yet the movement toward patient-centered and holistic approaches to health care has awakened in many of us an awareness that these personal stories are telling us something significant and that we ought to be paying attention to them. But we are not quite sure what to do when these moments come along. We don’t know what clinical purpose the process of telling and listening to stories can serve.
In writing this book, we believe we are bringing good news to our fellow health care professionals. The news is simple: stories are important, they should be encouraged, and they can be used to help patients cope with stress. The goal of this book is to equip the reader with the knowledge to recognize these therapeutic opportunities and the skills necessary to guide the storytelling process so that patients are strengthened by their own stories.
The premise of our life narrative interview is that during times of stress, we need to be reminded of the positive aspects of our life, especially our strengths and resources. Being reminded serves as a shortterm buffer against the feelings of vulnerability and helplessness that so often accompany medical illness and treatment. We have found that each individual, regardless of the misfortune in his or her life, has positive experiences that can be drawn upon for this purpose. We all have our high points, defining moments, and finest hours. This book emphasizes the skills necessary to keep the focus of the interview on these positive experiences.
The other key premise is that the listener has a key role in the storytelling process. In a very real sense, stories are “co-created” by teller and listener. The storyteller (the medical patient) constantly observes the listener (the medical caregiver) for subtle and not-so-subtle signs of interest and lack of interest, acceptance and nonacceptance. A responsive listener will inspire patients to tell meaningful stories and validate the personal attributes revealed in those stories...
We love a good story, and our patients have some of the best stories around. Listening to them not only helps our patients but enriches our own lives.
We have also written Life Narrative Interviewing: A Manual for Interviewers. This manual focuses on the interviewing techniques that we write about, and is a great tool for those wanting to learn the practical skills needed to do a Life Narrative Interview.
Albert Bellg
I've been a writer most of my life - a poet, corporate speechwriter, academic writer, and author - and I'm glad to share with you some of the things I've written.
Introduction to Living the Deepest Truth You Know
May, 2020
Simply Mindful: A Daily Practice to Reclaim Your Life
April 2019
Listening to Life Stories: A New Approach to Stress Intervention in Health Care
June, 2014
Take a 20 Year Wellness Challenge
November, 2013
Introduction to Living the Deepest Truth You Know
May, 2020
Simply Mindful: A Daily Practice to Reclaim Your Life
April 2019
Listening to Life Stories: A New Approach to Stress Intervention in Health Care
June, 2014
Take a 20 Year Wellness Challenge
November, 2013