Rediscovering Interpersonal Punctuation
Abstract
The term punctuation in psychotherapy refers to narrative decisions about when a problem started and who should be held accountable for it. The concept was once a staple of family and systems therapies, but it has largely fallen into disuse. Its near disappearance coincided with the declining interest in those therapeutic approaches rather than as the result of direct attacks on the concept’s validity or usefulness. In other words, punctuation seems to have been neglected rather than deliberately abandoned or supplanted. The authors argue for the continuing value of punctuation and its introduction to a new generation of clinicians. They also discuss several theoretical issues that were not well explored during the heyday of punctuation’s popularity. Finally, the authors explore and illustrate the practical utility of punctuation in psychotherapeutic contexts.
Access content
To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.- Personal login
- Institutional Login
- Sign in via OpenAthens
- Register for access
-
Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability.
Not a subscriber?
PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5 library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.
Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).
