Co-constructing Non-verbal Narratives: Narrative Scrapbooking as a Meaning-making Tool in Bereavement Elizabeth Maier M.A., Ph.D. Candidate Institute of Transpersonal Psychology Clinical Psychology Track, Creative Expression Track Palo Alto, California, USA Presented July 19 th , 2006 Constructivist Psychology Network Conference San Marcos, California, USA

Narrative Scrapbooking (NS) NS is a creative and co-constructed process: Constructivism as a philosophy of participation (Mahoney, 2003) Based in a compassionate and empathic human relatedness Helping to create and re-create reality in a constructive, hopeful atmosphere

NS is a creative and co-constructed process:

Constructivism as a philosophy of participation (Mahoney, 2003)

Based in a compassionate and empathic human relatedness

Helping to create and re-create reality in a constructive, hopeful atmosphere

Narrative Scrapbooking (NS) Therapist and client co-constitute an atmosphere: Creating a visual teleonomic narrative Narrative as defined by Plato’s The Republic is a story which has a beginning, middle, and ending (William Labov, 2006)

Therapist and client co-constitute an atmosphere:

Creating a visual teleonomic narrative

Narrative as defined by Plato’s The Republic is a story which has a beginning, middle, and ending (William Labov, 2006)

Narrative Scrapbooking (NS) Therapist and client co-constitute an atmosphere: Creating a visual teleonomic narrative Teleonomic refers to the ever-emergent quality of the narrative as it develops Patterns become clear in retrospect and are not necessarily apparent at the start

Therapist and client co-constitute an atmosphere:

Creating a visual teleonomic narrative

Teleonomic refers to the ever-emergent quality of the narrative as it develops

Patterns become clear in retrospect and are not necessarily apparent at the start

Structure NS is a visual journaling technique: Beginning with an accordion-style book Focusing upon an intention Intentions are verbally shared in the group Intuitively collecting images Images come from books, magazines, photographs, etc. Piecing together the mosaic

NS is a visual journaling technique:

Beginning with an accordion-style book

Focusing upon an intention

Intentions are verbally shared in the group

Intuitively collecting images

Images come from books, magazines, photographs, etc.

Piecing together the mosaic

Distinguishing Narrative Scrapbooking Tend to limit the range of emotional expression Negotiates with one’s capacity and need for emotional expression Focus on a concrete outcome Focuses on process Scrapbooking Hobbies Narrative Scrapbooking

The teleonomic process of NS mirrors human personality development by recognizing themes after the fact. Similarly, grief therapists are approaching a new postmodern concept of grief. Grief as a non-linear and often cyclical experience (Neimeyer, 2001) NS and Grief

The teleonomic process of NS mirrors human personality development by recognizing themes after the fact.

Similarly, grief therapists are approaching a new postmodern concept of grief.

Grief as a non-linear and often cyclical experience (Neimeyer, 2001)

Dennis Klass (2001) Inner Representation Model Ethnographic study started in 1978: To better understand the experience of child loss from bereaved parents Developed an overall picture of the inner and social worlds of bereaved parents

Ethnographic study started in 1978:

To better understand the experience of child loss from bereaved parents

Developed an overall picture of the inner and social worlds of bereaved parents

Dennis Klass (2001) Inner Representation Model Found: Parents maintain continuing bonds with the representation of the Deceased Child Degree to which parents feel integrated and resolved about their grieving is related to the integration of the inner representation in the parents’ social world

Found:

Parents maintain continuing bonds with the representation of the Deceased Child

Degree to which parents feel integrated and resolved about their grieving is related to the integration of the inner representation in the parents’ social world

What NS proposes to do: Help participants in group setting: Access their emotional states Receive empathic support and reassurance Resolve (as much as can be) or reduce the distress associated with the grief Co-construct new narrative around distressing event or experience

Help participants in group setting:

Access their emotional states

Receive empathic support and reassurance

Resolve (as much as can be) or reduce the distress associated with the grief

Co-construct new narrative around distressing event or experience

How does NS achieve this? In sync with Kennedy-Moore and Watson’s (2001) survey on how and when emotional expression helps, NS aims to: Reduce distress about distress Facilitate insight Affect interpersonal relationship

In sync with Kennedy-Moore and Watson’s (2001) survey on how and when emotional expression helps, NS aims to:

Reduce distress about distress

Facilitate insight

Affect interpersonal relationship

Facilitation Ensuring memory as constructive narrative: Recognizing the root of the distressing emotion Assessing the way in which the client expresses the emotion Externalizing the process so as to gain a witness consciousness

Ensuring memory as constructive narrative:

Recognizing the root of the distressing emotion

Assessing the way in which the client expresses the emotion

Externalizing the process so as to gain a witness consciousness

Case Study of Grieving Mother 45 year old woman Lost her daughter, age 4, to a life- limiting illness Workshop Participant In a group setting Interviewed afterward

45 year old woman

Lost her daughter, age 4, to a life- limiting illness

Workshop Participant

In a group setting

Interviewed afterward

Expect a Miracle Nursing Essential A Gift for Healing Discovering Wisdom Life Prayers

Inner Creative How to See Within Reach In search of answers Mommy & Me

Spiritual Parenting Conscious Dreaming LOVE

GROWTH Complete Metamorphosis MOMENT The Return of the Mother Leading a Life that Matters

Future Work

Digital Scrapbooking Digital Scrapbooking Manipulating Digital Imagery Online digital scrapbooking groups Bringing together online communities for support and creative sharing Podcasts for Demonstration and ‘Live’ support

Digital Scrapbooking

Manipulating Digital Imagery

Online digital scrapbooking groups

Bringing together online communities for support and creative sharing

Podcasts for Demonstration and ‘Live’ support

“ This is my interpretation of what it has been like for me, but I’m learning more about the intent and meaning of it. People hear my voice and then it becomes part of them. People can learn from their sharing of their books. I do believe they are meant to be shared.” ~Karen Herzog, Feb. 4, ‘05

“ This is my interpretation of what it has been like for me, but I’m learning more about the intent and meaning of it. People hear my voice and then it becomes part of them. People can learn from their sharing of their books. I do believe they are meant to be shared.”

~Karen Herzog, Feb. 4, ‘05

References Kennedy-Moore, E., & Watson, J. (2001). How and when does emotional expression help. Review of General Psychology, 5 (3), 187-212. Klass, D. (2001). The inner representation of the dead child in the psychic and social narratives of bereaved parents. In Neimeyer, R.A. (Ed.), Meaning reconstruction and the experience of loss, pp. 77-94. Washington, DC; APA. Labov, W. (2006). Narrative pre-construction. Narrative Inquiry, 16 (1), soon-to-be published. Mahoney, M. (2003). Constructive psychotherapy: A practical guide. New York: Guilford Press. Malchiodi, C. A. (2002). The soul’s palette: Drawing on art’s transformative powers for health and well-being . Boston: Shambala. Neimeyer, R. A. (Ed.) (2001). Meaning reconstruction and the experience of loss . Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Kennedy-Moore, E., & Watson, J. (2001). How and when does emotional expression help. Review of General Psychology, 5 (3), 187-212.

Klass, D. (2001). The inner representation of the dead child in the psychic and social narratives of bereaved parents. In Neimeyer, R.A. (Ed.), Meaning reconstruction and the experience of loss, pp. 77-94. Washington, DC; APA.

Labov, W. (2006). Narrative pre-construction. Narrative Inquiry, 16 (1), soon-to-be published.

Mahoney, M. (2003). Constructive psychotherapy: A practical guide. New York: Guilford Press.

Malchiodi, C. A. (2002). The soul’s palette: Drawing on art’s transformative powers for health and well-being . Boston: Shambala.

Neimeyer, R. A. (Ed.) (2001). Meaning reconstruction and the experience of loss . Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.