CAHSS Faculty Articles
Tuning the Ear: Listening in Narrative Therapy
Publication Title
Journal of Systemic Therapies
ISSN
1195-4396
Publication Date
3-2010
Abstract
In this article the authors adopt “tuning the ear” as a metaphor for listening within narrative work. The distinction between listening as an intentional event, influenced by personal, theoretical, and political intentions is discussed. A central idea involves distinguishing between “listening to” and “listening for,” which suggests that therapists select events to be heard or not heard. The authors suggest that intentional listening can lead to therapeutic conversations that bring forward aspects of the lives of both clients and the therapists that would not have been predicted by the problem story. A map around intentional listening is presented, the Tuning the Ear Map, which includes four levels: tuning in, intentions, consequences, and action. The map is illustrated with excerpts from a conversation within a live supervision group.1
DOI
10.1521/jsyt.2010.29.1.51
Volume
29
Issue
1
First Page
51
Last Page
66
NSUWorks Citation
Hibel, J., & Polanco, M. (2010). Tuning the Ear: Listening in Narrative Therapy. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 29 (1), 51-66. https://doi.org/10.1521/jsyt.2010.29.1.51
