Narrative Therapy: Foundations & Key Concepts

Have you reviewed our first lesson here? We begin by briefly describing narrative therapy and what makes this approach distinct from other approaches. We honor the legacy of Michael White (Australia) and David Epston (New Zealand) the founders of Narrative therapy with special added remembrances to Michael who died in April, 2008. Michael’s close colleagues – Maggie Carey, Rob Hall & Shona Russell – reflect on  the practices that make up the narrative approach, and their [...]

Kaethe Weingarten A 1999 interview with Kaethe Weingarten conducted by Vicki Dickerson: This interview gives an excellent brief overview of the history of narrative therapy, and of the distinctions from other models of family therapy. Click here to review the interview. Jill Freedman In the USA, the Sandy Hook School shooting in Connecticut (December, 2012) weighed heavily on just about  everyone's hearts and minds. It was so horrific beyond imagination.   [...]

Narrative therapy often highlights distinctions from other models of psychotherapy. For those of you new (or relatively new) to narrative therapy: What stands out to you as apparent differences? What peaks your curiosity? Do you have questions for folks with experience practicing in these ways? For more experienced narrative practitioners: if you have practiced in other ways, what is your first hand experience with what might make narrative therapy distinct from other approaches to psychotherapy, [...]

(Before responding, please listen to the brief radio interview with Jill Freedman in the aftermath of the tragic Sandyhook School shooting in Connecticut in December, 2012.   In this brief radio interview, Jill Freedman does a remarkable job showing how narratively-oriented questions can contribute to the public dialogue. What stood out to you about Jill's questions? Did you notice anything different about Jill's narratively oriented questions from other approaches to trauma recovery? How [...]

(Before responding to this question, please be sure to read the brief 1999 interview with Kaethe Weingarten conducted by Vicki Dickerson that gives an excellent brief overview of the history of narrative therapy, and of the distinctions from other models of family therapy. Click here to review the interview.) After reading this article, what contribution does this interview offer to your understandings of narrative therapy? What stands out to you about the history of narrative [...]

As you read through the abundance of materials in the first section, "What is narrative therapy?", can you help us ground the concepts here in your every day practice? - Is there a story that come to mind from your own work context that can help make these ideas come alive? - Can you briefly describe your work context? - How have you understood a key narrative concept in this particular context? - When did [...]

Peggy Sax Those of us who had the privilege of knowing Michael White can remember how often he used the word “Joy.” Here is what he wrote about the joy he experienced reading Foucault: “Upon first reading Foucault on modern power, I experienced a special joy. This joy was in part due to his ability to unsettle what is taken-for-granted and routinely accepted, and to render the familiar strange and exotic. Apart from [...]

"Deconstruction & Therapy" was one of the first articles I ever read by Michael White. Here he outlines what later became more distilled into future writings, culminating in "Maps of Narrative Practice." Throughout the remainder of the course, we will focus on specific narrative practices that build on deconstruction. First...two questions: What intentions underpin our interest in unpacking discourses? What does "deconstruction" mean in the context of your work?

Are you able to find the lovely article by Chris Beels called, "Some Historical Conditions for narrative work," followed by the ongoing conversation with Chris about this article (<a href="https://reauthoringteaching.com/topic/b-historical-conditions-of-narrative-work/" target="_blank">here</a>)? Every time I feature Chris' article in a course, he responds enthusiastically. Whether through email or on the phone, I can"hear" him respond with a smile. Like most authors I know, Chris is so happy to know that his work is useful to us.. [...]

How is it that some stories have more space to exist than others? What do you notice about what helps alternative stories come into co-existence - and even prosper- in the presence of a dominant story?

After watching Chimamande Adichie: The Danger of the single story: What stood out most to you in watching this TED talk? What are some of the single stories that people bring to you about their lives? What are some of the single stories that exist about the people you work with? What do you notice about the effects of these single stories on people’s lives and relationships?