1. Receiving and Reading Meaning
Chapter 5
Receiving and Reading Meaning
By: Noah M.P. Spector and Shaofan Bu

2. Coordinating meanings; Achieving mutual understanding
The meaning of words and language is not pre-given. It’s a function of its use and its use varies from speaker to speaker.
Same for non-verbals: there are dominant meanings of certain non-verbals, but we can’t count on clients adhering to these.

3. Coordinating meanings; Achieving mutual understanding
A primary task is to understand another's lived experience.
To get at this we have to appreciate what verbals and non-verbals mean for them.

4. Verbal Expression: Cultural Curiosity
Getting from here to there
As collaborators and fellow travelers, to know where the client would like to be—there—takes knowing where they are now—here.
To figure out what “there” means we must have an understanding of the client’s current experience in their unique world.
This involves patience—not rushing to think we understand.

5. Verbal Expression: Cultural Curiosity
Assuming Cultural Differences
Words mean different things to different people.
No matter how similar our clients appear to us, there are always cultural differences.

6. Verbal Expression: Cultural Curiosity
Language as a “second hand tool”
Words don’t correspond one-to-one with things.
Words are used in a variety of ways; they are both familiar and idiosyncratic.
E.g.. He hurt me
What we do with our words often depends on the legacies of these words in our personal worlds (i.e. culture).

7. Avoiding the rush to understanding
“understanding too quickly runs the risk of blocking the development of new meaning” (Anderson & Goolishian, 1988, p. 382).
When we decide we “understand” we stop the inquiry into the client’s experience.
Counseling therefore depends on continually striving to understand without the expectation of ever fully arriving at an exact understanding.
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8. Avoiding the rush to understanding
Beginner’s mind
An attempt to approach something familiar as if we are seeing it for the first time
As if we are a child learning something new, we are open to being surprised!
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9. Avoiding the rush to understanding
And what else? Refraining from concluding
Achieving understanding is never done, it is an indefinite act
From a “freeze frame” of a client to seeing them as ever changing/evolving
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10. Minimizing Misreading
Getting it wrong” is not necessarily a problem
Conveying tentativeness to invite corrections
Sometimes clients are hesitant to correct a professional because of differences in power.
As professionals it is important to convey our readings/ thoughts in a way that invites correction.

11. Nonverbal expression We speak more than with words
Non-verbals are also subject to cultural variation and multiple interpretations.
There is no “code” to break the endless variation of nonverbal expressions

12. Nonverbal expression Ambiguity in nonverbal expression
Even seemingly straightforward non-verbals can have different meanings depending on culture and context.
When you aren’t sure, you should ask—curiosity is key.

13. Context and meaning
Context and the circumstances surrounding the message are another dimension in discerning meaning.
``Words amongst words”
The meaning of the word depends on the words around it, the context.

14. Hermeneutics: Life and identity as text
We interpret events to make meaning of them
There are many “readings” of our lives and identities
Each reading plays out in very different ways
David Pare -

15. The Hermeneutic Circle
Separate parts of the message are understood in reference to the whole message.
The circle:
The broader context influences how we understand one piece and vice versa.
Noah’s personal Photograph; ask students to research king’s canyon—answer: it is a sacred aboriginal place.

16. Intuition and accountability
Sometime counselors follow gut feelings and intuitions.
To practice intentionally based on an ethic of care, we should have accountability as a goal.
What informs my intuitions?

17. Encouraging Sharing
Encouragement can be shown to clients by nonverbal cues as well as statements and questions.
Conveying attention and concern nonverbally
Facial expressions, voice tone and body posture contribute to expression of empathy.
Never assume what is sent is what is being received.

18. Using language to solicit the client’s account
Language is more versatile than non-verbals
Statements versus questions
Statement convey information, do not demand a response.
e.g. The office is closed on Sundays; I think you’ve handled that very well; I’m sure it will work out in future.
Questions call for a response
E.g. How did you manage that? What makes that important to you? Where do you see this trend leading?

19. Using language to solicit the client’s account
Questions invite the client’s input.
Open Closed
More open: What would you like to talk about?
Less open: How are you feeling right now?
Closed: How old are you?
Open and Closed Questions:
A Spectrum