Meaning coconstruction in group counseling: The development of innovative moments

This study discusses a model of group counseling, the narrative mediation path (NMP), which is a
unique narrative, multimodal approach that combines four narrative modes (metaphoric, iconographic,
writing, and bodily
)
and the narrative group. The purpose of the NMP is to foster reflexive processes
with underachieving university students and to improve their academic performance. The study
analyzes a single case of group counseling for seven underachieving economics students at an Italian
university and the process of meaning construction among NMP narrative modes and the follow-up
session. It applies the innovative moments coding system, a reliable method for studying change by
tracking narrative innovations in sessions. More specifically, we focus on how innovative moments
(IMs: action, reflection, protest, and reconceptualization) evolve during the four different narrative
modes and the follow-up session. The findings suggest that the NMP fosters narrative innovations,
mainly of a reflexive nature (reflection and reconceptualization). Moreover, during counseling and
the follow-up session, the pattern of change is primarily characterized by reconceptualization IMs,
the most complex form of narrative innovation
European Commission (Grant Agreement 2011-4040 Project 517750-LLP-1-2011-1-IT-ERASMUS-ESIN)