법무보호위원 상담을 경험한 조현정동장애 대상자의 변화과정에 대한 내러티브 연구 = A Narrative Inquiry into the Transformative Process of Individuals with Schizoaffective Disorder

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study explores how a forensic client diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder reconstructs their life through counseling, using a narrative inquiry approach. Moving beyond symptom-focused perspectives, the study examines how meaning is formed and transformed within lived experiences, emphasizing relational and contextual dimensions. It is grounded in Clandinin and Connelly’s framework of narrative inquiry, particularly the three-dimensional narrative inquiry space—temporality, sociality, and place—and adopts a relational inquiry perspective.
The participant is a forensic client under the supervision of the Korea Rehabilitation Agency who engaged in long-term counseling with a professional counselor serving as a volunteer probation supporter. Institutional perspectives were also included through interviews with agency staff. Data were collected over time through counseling records, in-depth interviews, and field notes, and analyzed by tracing narrative patterns across time, relationships, and contexts.
The findings are organized into three phases. First, prior to the critical incident, the participant’s life reflected gradual disintegration characterized by escalating anxiety, repetitive thinking, and increasing social isolation. These experiences were closely tied to relational disruptions and the lack of stable emotional support, suggesting that the participant’s difficulties developed cumulatively within life contexts rather than as isolated pathological events.
Second, during the counseling process, the participant’s narrative was reconstructed through relational engagement. This transformation involved a shift from distrust to relational safety, the reorganization of daily life, the development of illness insight, and the expansion of self-understanding. Counseling functioned as a relational space in which thoughts, emotions, and behaviors could be reinterpreted as experiences rather than fixed truths, enabling improved emotional regulation and more adaptive life decisions.
A key finding is the emergence of intersubjective transformation. The counselor, initially positioned as an expert, moved toward a more reflective and relational stance through encounters with the participant’s insights. This shift highlights counseling as a mutually influential process rather than a one-directional intervention.
Third, institutional narratives revealed structural limitations within the forensic welfare system, including limited resources and a reactive approach to intervention. Despite these constraints, counseling was recognized as a critical complement that provides relational continuity and supports meaningful change.
Overall, the study demonstrates that transformation in forensic clients with schizoaffective disorder is co-constructed through relational experiences and institutional contexts. Counseling plays a crucial role in enabling individuals to reconstruct their life narratives and regain agency. These findings underscore the importance of integrating relationship-based counseling into forensic welfare systems to support sustainable reintegration and prevent recidivism..