Meeting my selves: an autoethnographic study

Configurations of self is a theory of self-pluralism integrated into the person-centered approach which posits that people can see themselves as having multiple parts or configurations of self. Despite this topic being taught in person-centered counseling training and used in practice, there is a dearth of published research around the individual lived experience of self-configurations. This autoethnography explores the first author’s awareness and experience of configurations of self, developed during personal person-centered therapy and person-centered counseling training. Data collection included the use of reflective writing and gathering the first author’s previous journal entries as well as artwork and photographs produced by her. Data analysis identified recurrent themes which were layered over an autobiographical timeline to produce a narrative of the first author’s experience of configurations. The narrative produced was then considered in conjunction with the theory of configurations. The study found that the first author’s experience not only aligned closely with the theory but that identification and exploration of her self-configurations helped her achieve greater self-acceptance and authenticity. The hope is that this study can be of benefit to both qualified and trainee counselors in exploring their own configurations and those of their clients.