Narrative Therapy: Local Performance and International Discourse in the Field of Family Therapy

This book will offer a condensed and easily accessible account of the theoretical background of Narrative Therapy. It is written for therapists and trainers who want a broader understanding of White and Epston’s Narrative Therapy and who may want to apply it in different arenas of clinical work. Unlike many narrative therapy books, this orientation will be concerned with a more integrative orientation, which includes both a philosophical groundings and practice. Distinctions, developments and connections to other forms of family therapy practice will be considered. It will trace the development of the model in the family therapy field as well as placing it within broader movements of other psychotherapies and the fields of literature, anthropology and philosophy. Its evolution in the UK will be described and contrasted with developments in other parts of the world. Narrative techniques and practice will be described with case examples from a range of settings. Clinical material will be based on practice in the UK context; including the connection to the NHS and British culture. A chapter will describe how Narrative ideas and techniques can be taught and shape the training context. Expansion of the practice will include material on supervision, organizational consultation and adult services.