Product Description
The narrative therapy approach involves the whole family and especially children by respecting their unique language, problem-solving resources, and views of the world. The authors begin by elucidating a basic theory of collaborative narrative play that allows new choices and stories of hope and change to emerge. They encourage appreciation for ways of communicating that appeal to children, whether in the sandtray or with puppet "co-therapists," and respect for special and unusual abilities, such the ability to "read hearts" or connect with imaginary friends. Compelling case examples draw the reader into the book from the first pages. Children who might have been labeled belligerent, hyperactive, anxious, or out of touch with reality are found to be capable of taming their tempers, controlling frustration, facing fears, and using their imaginations to the fullest. Realistic, heartening, pragmatic, and just plain fun, narrative therapy encourages children and their families to use resources that have been overlooked to turn the tables on the problems they face. Therapists, parents, teachers, or anyone helping children and families will find that this book turns their thinking around, too - in the most unexpected and illuminating ways.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 6 reviews)

Narrative at its best

If you are interested in narrative therapy, and especially working in a fun way, then this book is a must. Not only does it cover play therapy, but ways to include fun into any type of therapy when appropriate.
September 21, 2008

Practical, useful information

I became interested in Narrative Therapy at a conference for gifted children. I bought this book after it was recommended to me by one of the presenters who has used this therapy for several years. I have found it very clear to understand and have begun using the techniques that are described in the book. I would highly recommend this book to any therapist who is interested in exploring a different way to work with children, not only gifted but typical children as well.
January 11, 2007

Great tool for working with kids!

This is a great book for counselors and therapists who work with children. It has both a narrative and solution focused approach to helping children overcome their problems. I like the way it helps adults relate to children on their level - the level of play. A book all school counselors should have on their shelf.
March 22, 2006

Useful techniques but not grounded in real life practice

I would be more than happy to give this book a five star review but for a few key, significant complaints about narrative therapy. The main one is that no therapeutic failures are ever presented in narrative texts (including this one). This leads me to wonder if the authors' political, or politically correct, agenda is not more important than the clinical aspect of the work.

An example is the situation here where the therapist feels she must confront a client's racist remarks. It is presented as an imperative - that the therapists' needs at that point in the session are of supreme importance, given the context of the therapists' socio-political righteousness. I agree that racism should be challenged, and I am sure I am in accord with the therpaists' views here. But this is not the point.

After Ms. Freeman confronts the client about the racism the therapeutic relationship evolves to an epiphany in which all are blissfully healed - this is standard narrative mythology. In most psychodynamic literature (and real clinical practice) even skilled therapists sometimes suffer an empathic failure that leads to an adolescent leaving therapy. Young people are extremely sensitive to being judged, and it takes a very strong relationship, grounded in the clients' needs, to contain this type of intervention. Better still, the therapist should embody her/his beliefs in their being rather than by pontificating. A righteous stand like that presented here would stand at least a 50-50 chance of rupturing a therapeutic alliance. You won't find a book called "Failures in Narrative Therapy". This is not because failure is a 'construction' or some other bit of sophistry, or because therapeutic ruptures do not occur. It is because narrative therapy has yet to attain a level of maturity where it can admit that it, too, is an errant art that demands transparency and empathy, not preaching to the client out of the therapists' needs, no matter how noble.

All that said, many of the storytelling methods presented here are useful for working with children and their families. But please hold the self-congratulation, narrative enthusiasts.
July 19, 2000

Helpful and well writen

Provides original solutions to tough and common problems. I found that I was able to apply the concepts and suggestions, both personally, and in my practice, effortlessly. I bought it for every therapist I knew.
December 05, 1998

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

Maps of Narrative Practice (Norton Professional Books)
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Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends
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Narrative Therapies with Children and Adolescents
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Narrative Therapy: The Social Construction of Preferred Realities
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If Problems Talked: Narrative Therapy in Action
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