Listening to Life Stories A New Approach to Stress Intervention in Health Care Bruce Rybarczyk, Ph.D. Albert Bellg, Ph.D. Sloan Press, 2017. Originally published by Springer Publishing Co., New York, 1997. Copyright Bruce Rybarczyk, 2017 Paperback: $14.95 This is our original book about the Life Narrative Interview, which is now available as an economical paperback. It gives you a complete review of the clinical rationale and context for conducting the Life Narrative Interview with medical patients, as well as the research that supports its use, examples of questions to ask, and information on how to conduct it.
From the Preface Our patients are continually trying to tell us stories about their lives. As health care professionals, our response typically runs the gamut from amusement to irritation, as we try to shift them to our clinical agenda. Yet the movement toward patient-centered and holistic approaches to health care has awakened in many of us an awareness that these personal stories are telling us something significant and that we ought to be paying attention to them. But we are not quite sure what to do when these moments come along. We don’t know what clinical purpose the process of telling and listening to stories can serve. In writing this book, we believe we are bringing good news to our fellow health care professionals. The news is simple: stories are important, they should be encouraged, and they can be used to help patients cope with stress. The goal of this book is to equip the reader with the knowledge to recognize these therapeutic opportunities and the skills necessary to guide the storytelling process so that patients are strengthened by their own stories. The premise of our life narrative interview is that during times of stress, we need to be reminded of the positive aspects of our life, especially our strengths and resources. Being reminded serves as a short-term buffer against the feelings of vulnerability and helplessness that so often accompany medical illness and treatment. We have found that each individual, regardless of the misfortune in his or her life, has positive experiences that can be drawn upon for this purpose. We all have our high points, defining moments, and finest hours. This book emphasizes the skills necessary to keep the focus of the interview on these positive experiences. The other key premise is that the listener has a key role in the storytelling process. In a very real sense, stories are “co-created” by teller and listener. The storyteller (the medical patient) constantly observes the listener (the medical caregiver) for subtle and not-so-subtle signs of interest and lack of interest, acceptance and nonacceptance. A responsive listener will inspire patients to tell meaningful stories and validate the personal attributes revealed in those stories... We love a good story, and our patients have some of the best stories around. Listening to them not only helps our patients but enriches our own lives. |
Life Narrative Interviewing A Manual for Interviewers Albert Bellg, Ph.D. Bruce Rybarczyk, Ph.D Copyright Bruce Rybarczyk and Albert Bellg, 2014 ebook: $5 This is our practical PDF ebook manual for conducting the Life Narrative Interview. It provides information on how to do a Life Narrative Interview with medical patients, family members, or friends, along with examples of questions to facilitate the process. In a condensed, easy to use format, it contains all the "how to" information from our original book, Listening to Life Stories.
From the Introduction The Life Narrative Interview (LNI) is a way of helping someone (perhaps a medical patient or someone else dealing with a difficult situation) enhance their mood and ability to cope by aiding them in telling positive parts of their personal life story. It harnesses the natural human inclination to share stories with others about our most meaningful experiences. By shaping the storytelling towards narratives that engender positive emotions and affirm coping resources, an LNI can help a person deal more successfully with stressful circumstances. This is a conclusion supported by research. Dr. Rybarczyk, conducting his doctoral dissertation in 1987, first demonstrated these stress buffering effects in a group of older male veterans facing major surgery. Combined with follow-up research conducted with colleagues, there is good evidence to describe life narrative interviews as an empirically based intervention that not only reduces anxiety but also enhances coping self-efficacy. The LNI can be conducted by lay counselors, volunteers or any type of health professional, providing the individual receives training and is able to listen well and respond appropriately to another person, which is essential to the interview. Do note that the LNI is not meant to be a clinical intervention for someone with anxiety or depression, which are problems that need to be addressed by licensed mental health professionals. This interviewer’s manual will help you understand the background, purpose, and method for conducting life narrative interviews. We hope you’ll enjoy learning about how to help others tell their life stories! Table of Contents Introduction 1. Types of Storytelling 2. Nine Process Goals 3. The Three Parts of the LNI 4. The Life Challenges Interview (LCI) 5. Summary Appendix: Sample Questions |