Michael White Archive

Picture by Natasha Savelieva

Donation from The Bouverie Centre

Dulwich Centre Foundation would like to acknowledge the generous donation from the Bouverie Centre to the Michael White Archive. This donation will assist us to catalogue the video collection of Michael’s therapy and teaching sessions. This will enable us to make this collection more accessible to future practitioners and researchers. Thanks, Bouverie Centre! To read more about The Bouverie Centre, visit http://www.bouverie.org.au/

Where did it all begin?: Reflecting on the collaborative work of Michael White and David Epston

Context magazine's issue 105 (October 2009), edited by Barry Bowen and Márie Stedman, explored the theme 'Narrative influences'. For this special issue, the editors asked Cheryl White to reflect on the significance of the connection between Michael White and David Epston. Cheryl's reponse, 'Where did it all begin?: Reflecting on the collaborative work of Michael White and David Epston', is republished here (pdf, 162 KB).

Reflections on Michael White's legacy

The 30th year anniversary edition of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy contains an article by David Denborough, 'Some reflections on the legacies of Michael White: An Australian perspective' - click on the article name to read about the spirit of originating in Michael's work, broader social issues, the politics of experience, and more.

Some historical conditions of narrative work

C. Christian Beels published this article, 'Some historical conditions of narrative work', in Family Process  (vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 363–378). We are pleased to republish it here with permission. From the abstract:

Written to honor the immense contribution of Michael White as a leader in the development of narrative therapy, this historical essay contrasts the origins of psychoanalysis, family therapy and narrative therapy. Changes in the understanding of therapeutic strategies, methods of training and supervision, styles of leadership, the involvement of audiences in the therapeutic and training processes, and conceptions of the nature of the mind are described. A style of direct demonstration of methods, especially of the formulation of questions, is important in narrative work. The central master-role of the therapist in analysis and family therapy is replaced in narrative work by eliciting local knowledge, and the recruitment of audiences to the work. This is consistent with narrative therapy’s 'de-centered' image of the therapist.

Creating an archive of tapes of Michael White’s interviews … seeking your assistance

There may be a way in which you can assist us in carrying on Michael’s legacy. We would like to ask your help in creating an archive of tapes and DVD recordings of Michael’s interviews. If you have ever been interviewed by Michael and this interview was recorded (as was standard practice), then perhaps you might be interested in contributing to an archive we are developing.

One common request we have been receiving since Michael’s death has been whether people can have access to copies of DVDs of Michael’s therapeutic interviews. This is, however, a complex question and one we have been spending a lot of time thinking through. During Michael’s life, he was very reluctant to make copies of his interviews widely available. He was also very reluctant for others to show these tapes in teaching contexts. We are determined to honour Michael’s concerns and wishes. There were two main concerns that Michael had. Firstly, how can meaningful consent be gained from those who Michael was interviewing for these tapes to be shared. Michael only had consent for him to show these recordings, not for anyone else to do so. Secondly, Michael was concerned that if people watched the tapes without having someone to explain the thinking that was informing the conversation that this could possibly lead to confusion and mis-reading of the interviews.

Knowing that there is a great deal still to be learnt from Michael’s interviewing and yet being determined to honour Michael’s concerns about the tapes being widely shared, we are now in the process of developing an archive of Michael’s therapeutic consultations. An international advisory group is being established to maintain this archive which will consist of Michael’s daughter and close colleagues. We will only be including in this archive tapes that we have received special permission to include. These tapes will not be available for sale. Instead, this archive will be kept here at Dulwich Centre and made available to therapists who wish to view certain materials. Those viewing the tapes will be accompanied by a Dulwich Centre therapist who has worked alongside / been trained by Michael so that explanations can be offered.

So, this brings us to where you may come in. We now wish to ask your assistance in generating this archive. If you have ever been interviewed by Michael and had this recorded, and if you would be willing to have a copy of this interview included in the Michael White archive, please can you get in touch with us c/o This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it We will then send you a formal consent form and arrange for a copy of your tape to be included in the archive. If at any time you wish for your tape to be removed from the archive, this will be possible. Only tapes that are volunteered by those who were interviewed will be kept in the archive. Similarly, if you know of others who have recordings of their interviews with Michael, please can you let them know about this archive. If they are interested in contributing, then please ask them to contact us. Thank you.

New collections of Michael White’s writings … seeking your ideas

The second area of legacy that people are approaching us over relates to Michael’s writings. Various practitioners have asked how they can get access to Michael’s less-known writings or those articles that are now out of print. We are in the process of thinking through the best way forward with this. If you have any suggestions about this we would welcome them. There are a number of different options available, including creating a ‘Reader’ of Michael’s writings, or a collection of less-known pieces. Any suggestions you may have would be warmly welcomed. Thank you.

Michael White Memorial Fund

In response to many requests, we have established a memorial fund in Michael's name. All funds raised will be put towards an alternative mental health project informed by Michael's ideas. If you would like to make a donation please write to Jane Hales at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Through the clouds: in memory

To play a song written in Michael's memory, click here

If you’ve got a bicycle
Then we’d better ride it
How about we head up to the hills today?

And if you’ve got wings
Then we’d better use them
Do you want fly with me through the clouds today?

If there’s a pool
We’d better swim
How many laps shall we do today?

And where there is sorrow
If we’re listening
There’s more than one story we heard him say

Where there’s despair
If we’re listening
There’s more than one story we heard him say

Where there is fear
If we’re listening
There’s more than one story we hear him say

Lyrics and music by David Denborough