Considerations for a discourse of collaboration in counseling

In this paper we consider a discourse of collaborative counseling practice drawing from developments in discourse and social constructionist theory. Collaboration, as we shall refer to it, speaks to negotiating and hopefully sharing initiatives, knowledge and judgment in counselor–client dialogues. However, such negotiations and sharing occur within perceived constraints associated with institutional and professional accountabilities, and are related to unequal powers seen as exercisable by clients and counselors. With these possibilities and constraints in mind, we articulate a discourse of collaborative practice based on counselors and clients sharing content and process expertise in areas often considered the sole prerogative of the counselor.