Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T00:14:36.919Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Narrative Therapy in Practice: A “storied” approach to building mental health resiliency in adolescents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2016

Miguel R. Fernandez
Miguel R. Fernandez*
Affiliation:
Sacred Heart College, WA
*
c/oSacred Heart College, PMB 6, WANGARA, WA 6065
Get access

Abstract

This paper investigates the use of Narrative Therapy in a high school. The focus is on demonstrating the use of Narrative Therapy in working with students who demonstrate at-risk behaviours especially with a view to building resiliency. It is proposed that to fully understand the value of Narrative Therapy, theory supporting this approach should be discussed. Underlying this approach is the recognition that a better understanding of theory will extend the practice of Narrative Therapy. To that end this paper approaches the use of Narrative Therapy on two levels, (a) a description of the theory that supports the practice of Narrative Therapy. This description focuses on the language and practices associated with Narrative Therapy. Specifically, issues around stories are discussed at length, and (b) a case study is presented attempting to bind theory to practice. It takes the reader on a journey by a student who was at-risk to her developing resilient behaviour. Initially, several key words and phrases are introduced as direct representations of the theory of Narrative Therapy. As the case study unfolds additional descriptions of theory impacting on practice are presented. The final outcome is a comprehensive description of a counselling approach that has relevancy in dealing with the complex issues of mental health resiliency in schools.

Type
Field Reports
Information
Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , November 1999 , pp. 147 - 162
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Derrida, J. (1978). Writing and difference. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Drewery, W., & Winslade, J. (1997). The theoretical story of narrative therapy. In Monk, G., Winslade, J., Crocket, K., & Epston, D. (Eds.), Narrative therapy in practice: The archaeology of hope (pp 32–52). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar
Epston, D. (1994, November/December.). Extending the conversation. Family Therapy Networker, p.31–37.Google Scholar
Foucault, M. (1973). The birth of the clinic. London: Tavistock.Google Scholar
Foucault, M. (1980). Power/knowledge: Selected interviews and other writings. New York: Pantheon Books.Google Scholar
Freedman, J., & Combs, G. (1996). Narrative therapy: The social construction of preferred realities. New York: Norton.Google Scholar
Gergen, K. J. (1991). The saturated self: Dilemmas of identity in contemporary life. New York: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Gergen, K. J. (1994). Realities and relationships: Soundings in social constructionism. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard.Google Scholar
Hubble, M., & O'Hanlon, W. H. (1992). Theory countertransference. Dulwich Centre Newsletter, No. 1, 25–30.Google Scholar
Simblett, G. (1997). Leila and the tiger: Narrative approaches to psychiatry. In Monk, G., Winslade, J., Crocket, K., & Epston, D. (Eds.), Narrative therapy in practice: The archaeology of hope (pp 121–157). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar
Smith, C. (1997). Introduction: Comparing traditional therapies with narrative approaches. In Smith, C., & Nylund, D. (Eds.), Narrative therapies with children and adolescents (pp 1–52). New York, N.Y: The Guildford Press.Google Scholar
Steiner, R. (1986). The Philosophy of Spiritual Activity. Hudson, New York: Anthroposophie Press.Google Scholar
Tomm, K. (1991). 2-week externship in systemic therapy through the Univ. of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.Google Scholar
White, M. & Epston, D. (1990). Narrative means to therapeutic ends. New York: W.W Norton & Company, Inc.Google Scholar
White, M. (1997). Narratives of therapists' lives. Adelaide, S. A.: Dulwich Centre Publications.Google Scholar
Winslade, J., & Chesire, A. (1997). School counseling in a narrative mode. In Monk, G., Winslade, J., Crocket, K., & Epston, D. (Eds.), Narrative therapy in practice: The archaeology of hope (pp 215–232). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar