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In the following article, I will briefly introduce the method of Allegory Analysis (AA) (Guenther, 2020, 2021, in press) and then outline it in its application to the case study of. The goal of this article is to introduce AA and illustrate it using the particularly illustrative case of Theresa. It will be shown how AA can be a new psychotherapeuti...
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... Since the mid-twentieth century, systemic, relational, and dialogical approaches have been taking shape in psychotherapy, contributing to interdisciplinarity (Seikkula & Arnkil, 2013). However, a gap persists regarding the integration of the historical-cultural context in the clinical psychology, and psychotherapeutic practice, which has motivated some authors and academics (De Luca Picione, 2020, 2021aFossa et al., 2020Fossa et al., , 2022Guenther, 2023;Molina et al., 2015Molina et al., , 2017Salvatore, 2013;Salvatore et al., 2022Salvatore et al., , 2024Salvatore & Valsiner, 2014;Valsiner, 2014;Zittoun, 2011) to focus on the exploration of connections between subjectivity and culture. ...
Psychotherapy, as a cultural activity, faces the challenge of adapting to historical changes and emerging issues. In this article, a multilevel approach to psychotherapeutic intervention that encompasses the individual, relational, and contextual dimensions is proposed. The approach is based on an historical-cultural theoretical framework that integrates constructivist, systemic, and semiotic components to broaden perspectives for psychotherapy. The primary purpose is to integrate concepts derived from cultural psychology to structure ideas related to the theoretical understanding of intervention. A conceptual elaboration is presented to address the extension of the mind into the social and cultural contexts in continuous exchange between the self and others, as an essential vital process. First, the central concepts of semiosis, development, temporality, and dialogicality are presented as theoretical principles that guide this approach. The article elaborates on the cultural semiotic model as a framework to guide therapists’ understanding of the issues prompting individuals to seek psychological consultation and change, proposing therapeutic aims, conceptual tools for intervention, and strategies for building the therapeutic relationship. The relevance of this theoretical proposal for psychotherapy, as cultural mediation cuts across individual, relational, and contextual levels, is discussed.
... Primarily, the study focused on an official report detailing the practical implementation of STEAM education at the Junior High School (JHS) level in Ghana, as outlined in GSTEP (2022). Guenther (2023) suggests that allegorical analysis represents an innovative approach to research, enabling the depiction and comprehension of unique areas within a critical context through creative and imaginative means. The allegorical analysis in this study involved the 'Allegory of the Ancient Multi-story Houses' to vividly demonstrate the critical necessity of STEAM in the early years of education. ...
This study highlights the significance of prioritizing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education from the early stages of learning as a crucial step towards achieving inclusive and sustainable STEAM education. The study adopted a critical discourse analysis (CDA) and an allegory method entitled 'The Ancient Multi-Story Building'. The CDA involved studies, reports, and news on STEM-related and STEM initiatives in Ghana. The findings revealed a substantial gap in early childhood and primary education STEAM initiatives, largely due to prevailing misconceptions about these levels of education. The allegory of the 'Ancient Multi-Story Building' further explains the adverse impact of this gap by metaphorizing the flawed approach of initiating and investing in upper-level STEAM education while neglecting the lower-level years, much like a village constructing a multi-story building focusing on the higher floors without solidifying its base; obviously, the results will be disastrous. Similarly, the findings show that previous STEM-related initiatives in Ghana focusing on upper-level education have often been inclusively ineffective. The allegory further points out that the few students who thrive in these lopsided STEM-related pathways are typically those from affluent backgrounds with the necessary support. The study indicated that starting STEAM education in the early years of education has the potential to promote gender equity, cultivate critical thinking skills, and develop a positive attitude towards STEAM subjects among all young learners. This study, therefore, lays the groundwork to propose a strategic framework for early childhood and primary STEAM education in Ghana and other similar contexts.
