Contemporary Narrative Therapy with David Epston and Friends
Curating Team: David Epston, Kay Ingamells, Dean Lobovits, Peggy Sax & Larry Zucker
Contemporary Narrative Therapy is an emergent approach distinguishable from Classical Narrative Therapy (1985-2008). In collaboration with Kay Ingamells, David Epston is currently working on a new series to demonstrate and explore Contemporary Narrative Therapy. Each course explores the online a pedagogy David has engaged with over the last 15 years in traditional live workshop formats with two inter-woven themes: 1) what is a good question and what does such a question do? and 2) what is a good story and how does it ‘counter’ a problematic story?
Offering foundational-level teaching of David’s practice, the courses are built around actual interviews, accompanied by Kay Ingamells’ reflections and further conversation with David. Studying videos and their transcripts, their commentary offers guidance to pay close attention i(n transcripts ) to specific counter-storying practices in the video. Innovative teaching methods draw from ‘The Apprenticeship in the Artistry of Narrative Practice Program with David Epston, Kay Ingamells and Tom Carlson. For those interested in learning more intensive training situated within their own practice, this series serves as a gateway to The Apprenticeship. Our hope is that these initial courses will continue to develop as a forum for David and Friends, contributing to Contemporary Narrative Therapy with guest training & interviews, and in partnership with The Journal of Narrative Family Therapy. Please check this website and/or sign up for our newsletter for updates and to find out when the first course is ready.
Audio
Podcasts with Kay Ingamells
This podcast of Wilbur the Warrior, tells the story of Kay Ingamells’ conversations with Wilbur and his parents, who she enlists as her co-therapists. Wilbur is an eight year old boy overcome by anxiety which has started to manifest as anorexia. The story illustrates the process of developing a counter-story for a problem story using practices developed Kay’s mentor, David Epston. This story also be can be read, together with the companion article, which describes and explains the practices and ideas used in the sessions at www.yourstory.org.nz
Related Collabs
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December 18, 2022 Collab Salon: The X-Powers Project: Calling up super-powers and wonderment, to subvert seemingly stuck stories
This Salon showcases highlights from our shared passion project of several years: the scouring for and nurturance of those unique…
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November 20, 2022 Collab Salon: Improv Narrative: Saying “yes, and” in narrative therapy and social work across the globe
The principles of improv theater (making your partner look and feel good, counting on chaos and uncertainty, showing up for…
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September 18, 2022 Collab Salon: Getting Kicked Out of School & Redeeming Your Reputation
David Epston has invented many imaginative, and startlingly successful ways of disappearing problems for children and young people, which he…
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August 21, 2022 Collab Salon: Childhood Stealing & Learning How to Apply David Epston’s Inventions
David Epston has invented many imaginative, and startlingly successful ways of disappearing problems for children and young people, which he…
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May 15, 2022 Collab Salon: Fiction as witnessing practice
Irene (trauma survivor) and Christoffer Haugaard (psychologist) developed a practice of witnessing in relation to Irene’s alter ego in fictionalized…
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August 15, 2021 Collab Salon: Temper Tantrum Parties & Learning How to Apply David Epston’s Inventions
David Epston has invented many imaginative, and startlingly successful ways of disappearing problems for children & young people which he…
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NOVEMBER 17, 2019: Re-imagining Narrative Therapy in the Americas
As part and parcel of marcela polanco's PhD thesis in Family Therapy at Nova Southeastern, she and David Epston set…
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OCTOBER 20, 2019: A Narrative Therapy Approach following in Michael White’s Footsteps to those Who Hear Voices
Over the last several months with the support of the Mental Health Services. Aalborg University Hospital, Christoffer Haugaard and David…
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March 17, 2019 Collab Salon: How I have re-imagined my practice with ‘wonderfulness interviews’
Wonderfulness Enquiries (with children or Virtue Enquiries (with adults) have not only become the centrepiece of my first sessions since…
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November 18, 2018 Collab Salon: Virtue Inquiries at the End of Life
Sasha Pilkington shares a practice she calls “virtue inquiry” that guides her approach to end-of-life conversations. She listens for and…
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Additional David Epston Resources
David Epston: An overview
David Epston is the co-originator with Michael White of what has come to be known as ‘narrative therapy and community work’. The collaboration between David and Michael began in the late 1970s, as continued for many years…
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Remembering Michael White
David collaborated with Michael White for more than 25 years.
- David Epston & Letter writing
- Playful Approaches
- Alternative Sources of Bravery
- The Poetics of Inquiry
Various Articles on Narrative Approaches

- Down Under and Up Over – Travels with Narrative Therapy
- Seven Letters- Ann Epston
- Putting Pressure On Yourself To Put Pressure On The Problem
- Format of Questions for an Alternative Version of the Problem..(Couples)
Working with Children & Families

Playful Approaches to Serious Problems
Review and Order
Narrative Therapy in Wonderland
Order BookAnti-anorexia/Anti-bulimia


- Archive of Resistance
- Anti-Anorexia/ Bulimia: A Polemics Of Life And Death
The Journal of Systemic Therapies
- Clients Who Inspired You
- One Good Story Deserves Another
- Mother Appreciation Parties
- The Ethics of Excitement