Social Constructionist Narrative Approaches Social Construction Models Collaborative
Social Constructionist & Narrative Approaches
Social Construction Models: Collaborative Therapy n n Postmodernism Social Constructionism n n n The role of language and language systems Deconstruction A move away from hierarchy n n Flattening of therapeutic relationship Reduction of therapist’s “expert” status
Social Construction Models: Collaborative Therapy n n Reality Invented not Discovered n An epistemological shift Basic Characteristics of Social Constructionist Theories n Egalitarianism in therapeutic relationship n Client as expert n Assumptions about the problem are explored n Goal of helping clients explore new meanings
Social Construction Models: Collaborative Therapy n Collaborative Language Systems Approach n n Leading Figures – Goolishian, Anderson, & Hoffman. Problems as stories people have agreed to tell themselves Hermeneutics The reflecting team approach
Social Construction Models: Narrative Therapy Michael White 1948 -2008 n The Narrative Metaphor n n n We live our lives through the stories we construct Our lives as multi-storied The dominant discourse or Story Poststructuralism and Deconstructionism Thick and Thin Descriptions
Social Construction Models: Narrative Therapy n Leading Figures - White & Epston n Self and cultural narratives n Oppression and its role in problem development and maintenance n Therapeutic Conversations
Narrative Therapy: Associated Techniques n Externalizing the problem n Therapeutic Questions n Unique Outcomes n Alternative Stories n Therapeutic Letters n Forming Supportive Leagues David Epston New Zealand
Populations n n n Extensive application with multiple populations across multiple identities Successful outcomes with people with chronic mental illness Useful in multiple settings including private practice, community mental health, other institutional settings e. g. , prisons
Links with Expressive & Creative Arts Therapies n n Narradrama (Pam Dunne Barrangar) Expressive Arts Therapy (Jennifer Freeman)
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