Clients‟ experience of counselling within a narrative framework

 
Construct: towards containment - freedom 
In taking the power to have a break from counselling the client appears to be moving towards 
new perceptions of herself where she can see herself in a more positive light. The freedom to just 
„be‟ as opposed to „doing‟ seems that it may enable her to contain her own feelings, and allow 
guilt to be renamed as the over responsibility for others that has prevented her from being a 
separate individual. 
 
Week 21. 
Line 1.
Wonderful to have such a long break 
Line 2.
+ mixed feelings about returning. 
Line 3.
Couldn‟t wait / anxiety. 
Line 4.
Good session - left feeling „lighter‟. 
Line 5.
Choice - to try (again) - differently.
Line 6.
Expecting more for myself whilst 
Line 7.
giving what is possible + OK. 
Line 8.
Perhaps what I need is to learn from 
Line 9.
the past, keeping my expectations for 
Line 10.
me! Respecting partner‟s choice of 
Line 11.
„not bothering‟ + voicing what it feels like. Try?! 
On returning to the counselling the client feels that it was wonderful to have such a long break 
(line 1) and has mixed feelings about returning (line 2) and some anxiety (line 3) as if she is 
aware of the work that is before her. Yet at the same time there seems to be a feeling of not being 
able to wait (line 3) for the return. She looks back on it as a good session (line 4) and seems to 
feel that she left feeling lighter (line 4) as if she has unburdened herself or is even excited about 
the forthcoming work. There is a feeling that she has a choice to try again differently (line 5) as 
if she wants to do the work differently this time. She seems to be expecting (line 6) more for 
herself rather than of herself and these expectations (line 9) appear to be hers as opposed perhaps 
to those of others. There is also a sense that she will give attention to others (line 7) but this will 

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be what is possible (line 7) rather than too much and tiring herself out. She also appears to be 
trying to respect her partners differences (lines 10,11) while at the same time voicing (line 11) 
what it feels like to do this. She ends with the exclamation of „Try?!‟ (line 11) as if she is 
exhorting herself to carry this through and really be different.