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Narrative Therapy
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Narrative Therapy

Second Edition

March 2006 | 224 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
"A thought provoking and interesting book that will be of interest to nurses and others supporting patients."
- Accident and Emergency Nursing

"It is a relevant and timely book that will remind therapists of the importance of the telling of client's stories as an important component of the therapeutic process. Whatever approach we use, the client's story will be a part of what we work with, so a sophisticated questioning of what 'stories/narratives' are will benefit our work. This book is a good starting point for such an exploration. It's an interesting book that will appeal to counsellors ready to challenge or add to their existing approach."
- Therapy Today

 

Narrative Therapy: An Introduction for Counsellors, Second Edition, offers a clear and concise overview of this way of working without oversimplifying its theoretical underpinnings and practices.

Narrative therapy places peoples' accounts of their lives and relationships at the heart of the therapeutic process. Its main premise is that the telling and re-telling of experience by means of guided questioning can facilitate changed, more realistic perspectives, and open up possibilities for the person seeking assistance to position him- or herself more helpfully in relation to the issues brought to therapy.

Drawing on the ideas of Michael White and David Epston, this fully revised, extended and updated Second Edition incorporates the progression of their thinking over the past five years and introduces developments initiated by other narrative therapists worldwide. New material has been added around counseling for post-traumatic reactions, couples conflict and a sense of personal failure.

The book is illustrated with extensive examples of practice with individuals and couples. It is ideal for anyone on training courses in narrative therapy, and also for counselors who wish to consider common ground between narrative ideas and their current approach.

Martin Payne is an independent therapist and trainer in Norwich, UK.


 
Foreword by John McLeod
 
An Overview of Narrative Therapy
 
Ideas Informing Narrative Therapy
 
Assisting the Person to Describe the Problem
 
Encouraging a Wider Perspective on the Problem
 
Asking Questions
 
Therapeutic Documents
 
Telling and Re-Telling
 
Examples of Narrative Practice I: Counselling for Depression, and for Recovery from Abuse
 
A Fresh Look at Assumptions in the Therapy Culture
 
Examples of Narrative Practice II: Counselling for Post-Traumatic Reactions, and in Working with Couples
 
Appendix: An Exercise in Co-Supervision Using Narrative Therapy Practices

Comments on the first edition:

'On reading Martin Payne's account I instantly had a sense of being understood. I found this particularly refreshing, as so much that is written in the name of narrative therapy doesn't at all fit with my understanding of its philosophical, ethical and political considerations. He has succeeded in representing his own voice in this, which really makes for engaging reading and accessibility of these ideas' - Michael White

'There is much here which feels of immediate relevance to the stories our patients tell us every day ... this is a wonderfully supportive and stimulating book' - Family Practice

'As a practitioner I found this book a good review of the area and most usefully, of the theory which underpins it' - Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy


Training students in narrative therapy allows them to discover the power of stories, their own and those of others. In South Africa it is important that postgraduate students to develop an appreciation for stories, as there are many untold stories within the south African society. Society tens to only focus on the negative stories through, for example, the media. Postgraduate psychology need to develop an appreciation for the untold stories that can empower society.

Professor Lourens Human
Psychology Department, University of Pretoria
April 14, 2016

This is an excellent text for any researcher or student and makes a valuable contribution to anyone's library.

Mr Paul Matthews
Business Administration , University College Birmingham
December 22, 2014

What an excellent introduction to Narrative Therapy. Clear and engaging.

Mr Keith Walmsley-Smith
Psychology & Mental Health, Staffordshire University
December 12, 2013

Narrative techniques are an essential part of the Cognitive Behavioural Therapist's repertoire and represent part of the 'Third Wave' of psychotherapy development. This book provides a sound introduction to the narrative approach to therapy and is particularly good at covering the philosophical context of the approach. At the same time it provides working examples of the techniques in clinical practice.

Mr Stephen Williams
School of Health Studies, Bradford University
October 9, 2012

New to the 2nd Edition:

  • Incorporates recent developments in narrative theory and practice
  • Introduces developments initiated by other narrative therapists worldwide
  • Includes some new examples of practice with individuals and couples
  • New material has been added around counselling for post-traumatic reactions, couples conflict and a sense of personal failure.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Introduction


For instructors

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ISBN: 9781446233900

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ISBN: 9781412920124
$200.00

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ISBN: 9781412920131
$88.00

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