'I was just thinking'. (16th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hutchby, Ian; O'Reilly, Michelle; Drewett, Alison; Stafford, Victoria
• Is Part Of: Research on children and social interaction. Volume 4:Number 2(2020)
• Page Start: 17650
• Page End: 17650
• Publication Date: 2021-02-16
• Subjects: Social interaction in children -- Periodicals; Social interaction in adolescence -- Periodicals; 303.32
• DOI: 10.1558/rcsi.17650
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2057-5807

Abstract

Abstract : Based on a corpus of child mental health assessment meetings, this article explores how practitioners use reports on their own cognitive processing, such as I was just thinking or I'm just wondering, in interaction with children and adolescents presenting with potential mental health issues. Using the methods of conversation analysis, the findings reveal different ways in which this device is used to encourage the child to engage with a particular topic, interpretation, or version of events from the standpoint of subjective experience; in other words, to produce feelings-talk. The analysis contributes further towards the understanding of child–adult interaction in professional arenas of action: in this case child mental health assessments.