A Narrative Case Study of How Individuals Construct Meaning Concerning Their Situation Through Their Meetings with Work Counsellors

Abstract

Unemployed individuals with health problems may need extensive work counselling to return to work. Narrative meaning-making processes provide possibilities for healing and change; however, we do not know enough about how such processes unfold throughout work counselling. The aim of this study is to explore how individuals construct meaning concerning their situation through their meetings with work counsellors. We sought to create in-depth knowledge according to this aim through a narrative qualitative case study design. We created data through a narrative interview with “Erin”, who shared her story about being mentally ill, unemployed, and engaging in work counselling in the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration. Data were analysed through a narrative approach. Our main finding is that through seemingly small and mundane interactions, work counsellors may have an important impact on individuals’ meaningmaking processes. Our findings show how this impact might be quite hidden, both positive and negative. We discuss how our findings and interpretations may inform our understanding of what it may be like to be sick and unemployed. Further, we discuss how a narrative perspective can be useful in work counselling for people with sickness or disabilities and what implications our findings may have for practice.