Peggy Sax

Peggy Sax

As you read through the abundance of materials in Narrative Therapy: Foundations & Key Concepts, 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 you realize you were capable enough to move forward and implement a particular concept?
– Who were the key persons that participated?
– What were some of the main obstacles that you had to overcome?
– Can you think of any particular future possibilities when you envision applying this concept again in your work?
What else would you like to tell us?

Hey, a special thank you to Stéphane Kovacs for reminding me of Paulo Freire’s principles in his “Test Pilot report:”

Principle 1: “Nobody is empty of the knowledge contained in this web site; therefore everybody is invited to tell the knowledge he already have and/or the knowledge this material helped to remind.

Principle 2: Knowledge is not sluggish material located outside students. It is the result of relationships between people, therefore it is binded to stories, values, hopes, and so on.

March 20, 2014: Danielle Spletter

There are many opportunities for some valuable externalising conversations in my practice with children, carers and families in my practice. However,recruiting the participation of key support people in the children’s lives is essential in support the children in the process, particularly when it comes to meaningful exploration and children changing their relationship with their probelms. Supporting complex communication needs is also a complexity in practice I encounter regularly in working with children with disabilites who are engaging in challenging behaviours. Engaging in externalising practices enables the exploration of the problem stories that in effect result in challenging behaviour for many of the children I see. I am finding there is no meaningful change without problems being externalised!

The statement of position map provides me with really good guide for scaffolding avenues of enquiry with children in a way that is meaningful. The externalising exercise has helped me stay on track and assisted me to stay with the process. I have lots of practice to do!

March 22, 2014
Peggy Sax

Peggy Sax

Hey Danielle,

Thanks for hanging in there with me/us in the face of all the start-up techno challenges. Now its a joy for me to find your post here, and to realize you (and others) are indeed finding the materials on externalizing conversations.

Is there a story that comes to mind where you (or anyone else listening in) tried out externalizing a problem? What kind of guidance did the statement of position offer? And how did the externalizing exercise help you to stay on tract and to stay with the process? I’m eager to hear more!

Peggy