Narrative ideas came to Amy Druker when she was seeking a way of working that did not insist on the de-politicizing of people’s suffering. She was particularly drawn to the idea of shining a light on the narratives that had been rendered invisible by dominant or ‘official’ narratives told (and often circulated) about the people she worked alongside as a harm reduction worker. She was conscious of the harms caused by the circulation of these ‘official’ narratives — and by being ‘storied’ in particular ways by persons in positions of power/authority. Amy was captivated by the task of seeking out the subordinated stories about a person’s resistance, hopes, values, commitments, purposes in life (the stories that could not have been predicted if we only knew the dominant story), and by the idea that people always resist injustices. Amy’s practice (and life) is guided by a commitment to social justice and the questioning of taken-for-granted ways of thinking about things (including the ‘doing’ of therapy, and the imposition of expert knowledge).

Until very recently, Amy worked in a public youth mental health agency in their walk-in and appointment-based counselling services for 7.5 years. Amy provides clinical ‘supervision’ and consultation at Breakaway Addiction Services. In her individual practice, she engages in individual, couple and family therapy and individual and group clinical ‘supervision’/co-learning conversations. Amy has taught on various narrative therapy topics for the Narrative Therapy Centre of Toronto, as a guest lecturer at the University of Toronto, and at various community agencies.

For more information about her approach to therapy and/or clinical ‘supervision’ co/learning, please see her website: www.amydruker