THE CONCEPT OF THERAPEUTIC EMPLOTMENT

This paper considers the narrative structure of clinical action. I arg ue that clinical encounters involve clinician and patient in the creat ion and negotiation of a plot structure within clinical time. This cli nical Plot gives meaning to particular therapeutic actions by placing them within a larger therapeutic story. No therapeutic plot is complet ely pre-ordained, however. Improvisation and revision are necessary to its creation. In making a case for the narrative construction of live d time, of narratives that are created before they are told, this pape r departs from the predominant mode of narrative analysis within medic al anthropology that has focused on narrative discourse. Therapeutic e mplotment is concretely considered through an interpretation of a sing le case, a clinical interaction between an occupational therapist and a head-injured patient.