6. Discussion
This study replicates previous ones (Cardoso et al., 2014a, 2014b) by analyzing patterns of narrative innovation and ambivalence in LDC. The results confirm a process of change similar to those found in previous studies (Cardoso et al., 2014a, 2014b). Namely, a gradual increase in the proportion of innovative conversation was found in a pattern similar to that observed in psychotherapy (Alves et al., 2012; Matos et al., 2009; Mendes et al., 2010), which suggests that the accumulation of IMs and a specific pattern of emergence (mainly constituted by high level IMs) may lead to the transformation of a client's self-narrative (Gonçalves & Ribeiro, 2012). This process across the three sessions was characterized by cycles of action and reflection, which are also observed in the initial stages of psychotherapeutic interventions (Mendes et al., 2011). Reflection was the predominant type of narrative elaboration. Its evolution throughout the sessions indicated that, initially, the client deepened her understanding of the problem. Next, she transitioned into expressing her intention of solving the problem and into new formulations of the problem (reflection I). Illustrative of this transformation was the emergence of the expression of interests with the expression of needs. Finally, the reflection IMs became expressions of the new self-representation (reflection II). Action IMs occurred complementarily in the third session as a consequence of the client's evolution; references to new plans stemming from the definition of vocational goals were accompanied by references to exploratory activity to implement such plans
