Judy:August 7, 2014 Dear Sarah, I hear you about getting disconnected from energy and creativity in work. I’m having a rough time staying connected to my study–I got a bit lost about what I wanted to do…and whether I can do it… The summer heat and continual rains here don’t help me stay focused, especially when I feel storms 3 days before it rains one drop. I’d rather hike some mountains and pick huckleberries— well, [...]
Piper Clyborn (March 18, 2012) Hi Everyone... This is such an exciting start to the conversation! I have appreciated reading everyone's responses so far and am gaining so many ideas from them! Thank you. My hope is growing. Sarah....my heart warmed to see your face and name on the screen. You are working in the field of addiction? Its validating to hear you have a hard time with the discourse and the field as well. What [...]
March 2, 2012: (Peggy) Through email, I recently connected two study group members - Piper Clyborne and Jo Viljoen- working on different sides of the world, yet with some similar experiences. They have given me permission to open this emerging conversation to the study group. (I have a dream that maybe this conversation might also be a good way to share Piper with you, and bring her into the study group. Up until now, Piper [...]
Sarah: June 6, 2014 Sarah Hughes Hello, To carry on the conversation about working with couples is very exciting to me and I hope people keep posting and others join in. I am lapping up this conversation and ideas like a thirsty dog on a hot summer day! I am working with many couples and haven't found a lot of good conversations like this to satisfy my thirst for new ideas for pushing my [...]
Peggy: (September 29, 2009) Some of you know that I entered human services back in the mid-1970s when I discovered a passion for home-based work with infants and parents. For about 20 years, I lived, ate and breathed a commitment to families with infants, toddlers and very young children. Through this work, I have met people with a fierce commitment and enthusiasm for getting children and families off to a good start, which matches my [...]
Peggy Sax: February 28, 2011 The "Narrative Practices Adelaide" certificate programme is about to start another year. In preparation, I am starting this special interest group so we can really make the most of the opportunity to bring together people with a particular interest in working with men who use violence against their partners. A good place to begin is to read Rob Hall's article, Pitfalls and challenges in work with men and to [...]
Peggy Sax For those of us who have been practicing in these ways for some time: – What would you want to tell someone who is just beginning to study narrative ideas and practices? – Can you put into words what kind of difference these ways of working make to your practice? What about telling a story or two? – Do any cautions come to mind? February 23, 2014 Jo [...]
Bonnie Miller: March 27, 2009 Hey everyone: Externalizing conversations- a hot topic for me- on the one hand, when they work they are amazing... on the other hand, I see this being taken up as a 'tool' or strategy by folks who do not understand (or want to understand?) the philosophical underpinnings of the idea- and this irks and alarms me. (how's that for an opener?) it seems important to me that the therapist, if [...]
Peggy Sax: February 9, 2012 Since our conversation on "Just being ways of being,"(Part One and Part Two) I have been thinking a lot about reflection-on-action in everyday practice as a practitioner. When narrative practitioners introduce practices that link lives and provide witnessing opportunities, we don’t go “by the book” but rather lean into ethical considerations from a "decentered- influential" posture. We are guided by certain practices/maps of narrative practice to go with what can [...]
Martha: November 07, 2009 Peggy and group - I’m here too. Although I’ve not written for awhile, I’ve been encouraged and enjoyed reading your reflections, it keeps me going and gives me more passion for the work I do. This time has been difficult for me from being sick with flu and moving to another house, but the study group is a project I took seriously and enthusiastically. I much appreciate your efforts, Peggy, and [...]
Amy: January 6, 2012 I have worked with First Nations families on reserve for 4 years now. When I first started, my love of other cultures made me excited about the possibility of learning about a completely separate people group right here in "Canada", and a group that has called this country home for so long, it makes my ancestors look like entrants in the last 5 minutes of a full length play. After 4 [...]
Amy: February 6, 2012 So many things to respond to! This is great! Sarah, what did your friend in Ontario mean by 'acts of acknowledgement'? I picture it as questions that bring out or acknowledge others' feats and accomplishments. Is that what she meant, or is it more like a ritual? As to the actions involved in 'just being', Cate's post has some of the same examples as me, like sharing a cup of tea [...]