Psychotherapeutic Discourse Analysis

In this paper, I use discourse analysis to study an individual psychotherapy session. I recorded and transcribed one of my own sessions with a patient in the early phases of supportive psychotherapy. My investigation begins with a background review of the treatment issues involved, followed by a typical psychodynamic assessment of the patient’s problems, and a look at broad treatment strategies that evolve from the assessment. I then use discourse analysis to develop a microanalysis of the recorded session. Through discourse analysis, I attempt to bridge the gap between my broad treatment strategies and minute conversational strategies that can be used in the service of treatment goals.