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Substance Users' Metaphorical Change Talk during Motivational Counseling Sessions in Finnish Probation Service
The aim of my ongoing study is to expand on the current understanding about clients’ change talk during MI. This paper explores substance-using clients’ metaphorical talk about change during MI sessions in Finnish Probation Service. The analysis is based on videotaped and transcribed data consisting of 98 MI-sessions. Sessions were videotaped in 12 Probation Service offices in Finland in 2007–2009.
The preliminary data analysis reveals that the use of metaphors is common in connection with change-related talk. The most common conceptual metaphor was CHANGE IS A JOURNEY. The other conceptual metaphors of change were CHANGE IS UP, CHANGE IS IN A HANDS, CHANGE IS A CONSTRUCTION SITE, CHANGE IS A GAME, CHANGE IS A STRUGGLE, and CHANGE IS LIGHT.
In general, it is concluded that this qualitative analysis provides evidence for the value of the role of metaphors as vehicles of change in substance use treatment.