Den flexibla kuratorn - En diskursanalys av hur en yrkesroll formas i hälso- och sjukvården

The aim of this study was to illustrate how the counselors who work in health care themselves talked about their professional role. We wanted to highlight what the counselors describe as central factors in their creation of the professional role. Our chosen method was qualitative discourse analysis through interviews. We have interviewed eight counselors in health care; four from physical illnesses and four from mental illnesses. To analyze our empirical data we used Goffman's role theory, Giddens and his structuration theory/ modernity analysis and discourse theory. The results that emerged from the study was that the counselor‘s role was difficult to define. One factor that emerged from the interviews about how the counselors’ professional role was shaped was expectations from other professions. Another factor was that the counselor himself was actively aware of and shaped their professional role. How counselors used their language with other professions also emerged as an important factor in the creation of the professional role. Our study was current when it was investigated whether social workers in health care would be licensed. The majority of the counselors expressed that this was to be desired but would not affect their professional role in the encounter with other professions