International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work
2025 Issue one
Dear Reader,
Welcome to this issue of International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work. It features papers, videos and audio notes relating to recent narrative practice projects from Rwanda, Australia, Zimbabwe, Canada, USA, India, Hong Kong and a moving paper from an Afghan family.
We look forward to your comments, reflections and/or questions for the authors.
Scroll down for the interactive issue ↓
Peer-Reviewed Papers
Fire conversations: Ways narrative practices can intersect with an inclusive spiritual care approach — Katrina Power and Jesse Size
This paper considers the ways that narrative practices can intersect with and add richly to a meaningful and inclusive spiritual care approach. In this paper,
Double story development in contexts where injustice is ongoing: Learnings from practice — Maya Sen
This paper explores challenges posed to double–story development in situations of ongoing injustice. Located within the Indian context, it proposes various narrative practices to address
Healing narratives: A journey of transformation and renewal — Mercy Shumbamhini
This article shares a narrative journey with a young man grappling with the effects of problematic substance use. Substance use had disrupted his dreams of
A narrative therapy approach to supervision and critical reflection: A conversation card resource — Ash Husband
In this paper I explore a narrative therapy approach to supervision and critical reflection and present the “Reflective Conversation Cards”, a resource to support practice
Spiritual care chaplaincy as joining with people in the “betwixt and between” and beyond: Meegan’s story with a big-ass mirror — Jesse Size
Spiritual care in a hospital setting regularly involves joining with people in the “betwixt and between” of life. This paper considers Michael White’s (2016) rite
Let’s hear what the experts say: Narrative co-research with young people resisting the gaze of success — Angela On Kee Tsun
This paper documents a co-research journey with three young people who had been labelled as “socially isolated” and “underachievers”. I introduce narrative ideas such as
Clinical record-keeping, narrative documents and chronic illness: When “fat files” tell thin stories about experiences in healthcare — Rewa Murphy
The extensive medical records of young people living with chronic illnesses can tell a thin story about the experiences and humanity of the person they
Narrative Family Therapy
Remembering Ajmal and creating diverse forms of narrative family therapy — Abdul Ghaffar Stanikzai et al
This paper shares a tender story from the Stanikzai family, a family from Afghanistan who now live in Australia. It is generously offered in the
Walking forward with uncertainty: A narrative family therapy practice story — Tamara Wilson
This paper shares a story of practice with a family who initially came to counselling because the 17-year-old son was suicidal. Our work came to
A narrative family therapy story: Unearthing slugs for the benefit of family healing — Shannon McIntosh
“The Terminator” was tricking 11-year-old Nathan into aggression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Nathan’s parents wanted to find ways to support Nathan and to develop their
Full Circle: Documenting hard-won knowledges and celebrating “bits of brilliance” — KJ Wiseheart
Therapeutic documents can serve as lasting records of the skills and knowledges that have helped people through hard times. When shared, they can foster community
Interviews
Researching delusions: A search for epistemic justice, Hamilton Kennedy interviewed by David Denborough
In 2024, this journal published a paper by Hamilton Kennedy highlighting the dismissive responses often experienced by people who hold beliefs that have been labelled
Featured Videos
Staying alive to prove them wrong: Collaborating with trans people, drag performers and queers in contexts of alt-right violence – Belial B’Zarr and Frankie Hanman-Siegersma
In recent years, we have seen a rise in anti-LGBTIQ+ violence and hate across the settler colonies of so-called Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and Turtle
Ingata yúbuzima: The ingata of life – Annonciata Niyibizi Muhayimana
Culturally resonant metaphors can highlight local skills and knowledges and strengthen connections to community, culture and history in ways that can sustain us in difficult
Threads of identity: Using fashion and narrative practice to explore preferred stories within the queer community — Libby Olson
This video explores the intersection of narrative therapy, fashion and gender identity through the co-creation of a gender-neutral paper doll dress-up game. Drawing from narrative
Audio
Fear busting and monster taming: An approach to the fears of young children by Michael White, read by Hamilton Kennedy
This is an audio recording of a paper that was originally published in Dulwich Centre Review, a precursor to this journal, in 1985. In this
Cultivating queer joy: Letter writing campaign — Aaron Patey
This audio practice note describes a letter-writing campaign dedicated to sharing insider knowledges of Queer Joy. Letter-writing campaigns seek to create a context to share
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