Collective Narrative Practices & Innovation Projects
The innovative projects which we discuss in this chapter draw on collective narrative practices that are concerned with responding to groups and communities who have experienced significant social suffering and oppression in contexts in which ‘therapy’ may not be culturally resonant. Collective Narrative Practices have a rich history and engage a diverse range of methodologies that can be used with individuals, groups and communities. In this chapter, we will just touch on a few methodologies …
“As counsellors, therapists, psychosocial workers and community workers, stories of hardship find their way to us. In some ways, we are cultural receivers of stories of suffering (Waldegrave, Tamaseses, Tuhaka & Campbell, 2003). And often this suffering is linked to broader injustices: to violence, abuse, racism, poverty, sexism, heterosexual dominance. To be the cultural receivers of these stories brings with it awesome responsibilities; for instance there are responsibilities to comfort and to somehow alleviate hardship. But there is another responsibility that I am hoping we will also engage with. How can we receive these stories and engage with them in ways that not only alleviate individual sorrow, but also enable and sustain local social action to address the broader injustices, violence and abuses in our varying contexts? How can we provide forums for the sorrow, anguish and hardship of the stories that we receive to be transformed into collective actions? I don’t mean grand social actions, I mean local, meaningful, resonant, sustainable, social action or social contributions’ (Denborough, 2008, p. 192)
For a link to the book you can visit Collective Narrative Practice by David Denborough
The following paper is an example of conversations that have taken place in a number of villages in rural Malawi. Here practitioners engage problems in a personification with one worker playing the role of Mr/Mrs AIDS, who represents HIV/AIDS; and another plays the role of Mr/Mrs CARE, who represents the community. Members of the village are invited to ask questions of these two characters, and a conversation develops. Please click on the link to read about this compelling example of collective practice!
Little by Little we Make a Bundle
In this interview, Paulo Freire describes some of his thinking about oppression, ethical responsibilities and how these shape possibilities for social change. The work of Paulo Freire has influenced the development of collective narrative practices.
Making History and Unveiling Oppression
The Mt Elgon Self-Help Community Project, based in rural Uganda, uses narrative practices to spark and sustain local social action and environmental and economic projects. This video contains some of the stories of the work of Caleb Wakhungu and the Mt Elgon project.
One of the ways in which the field of narrative practice continues to diversify is through innovation projects. These are often the result of collaborations, invitations and challenges. Many of them involve ‘cross-cultural inventions’ and partnerships. You might like to explore some of these examples:
Life Saving Tips from young Australian Muslims
Healing Stories Partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities
For more projects of this kind you can see the full list here:
Many narrative therapists and community workers are now using music and song in their work with individuals, groups, and communities. This page contains songs created during various Dulwich Centre projects both in Australia and overseas, as well as links to find out more about the contexts they were created in.
Songs as a response to hardship and trauma
You can listen to David Denborough discussing the use of song in narrative practice on the radio program ‘Songcatcher’, a Radio Adelaide production.
For Reflection
Is there an idea or project that stands out to you most at this time? What about this idea or project has sparked your enthusiasm or curiosity? In what ways might you begin to experiment with these ideas or methodologies?
What do you think? Have you got an idea that might be interesting to exchange with others? Please let us know and share your thoughts on this chapter below before moving on. Please include where you are writing from (City and Country). Thanks!
Sian
September 16, 2021I was interested in all of these projects, but working with individuals in private practice, I resonated most with the songs. I connected with my own relationship with music, and I considered the connection that music has provided me with others and the way in which music connects community.
I immediately thought of a client that I see who comes in and plays me her favourite songs. These are songs that she resonates with and they more than not have some connection to trauma and her trauma history. I wonder what would happen if she were invited to write her own song and what song she would sing.
Ernie
September 9, 2021Which resource in this chapter particularly caught your attention?
The Little By Little We Make a Bundle project held in rural Malawi
What sort of problems could be externalised in your context?
This concept is very new and unique to me. I believe all problems could be externalised however each issue would need to be individualized as single problem which requires its own personality, quality, trait, motives etc to construct a problem into a living being where individuals, communities are able to question the problem for intentions, locations, historical background future goals etc. A fair amount of practice is needed to develop suck a technique.
What difference might this make?
Story tellers need options to determine their journey and like most journeys we hit a bump in the road where tools, knowledge, experience are some of the equipment used to reduce obstacles.
TorCG
September 7, 2021Writing from Naarm
Is there an idea or project that stands out to you most at this time?
The tree of life idea particularly stands out to me
What about this idea or project has sparked your enthusiasm or curiosity?
I really like the visual metaphor of a tree being used to describe a person’s self, as it is easily understood and personally brings about a sense of calm to me. I think it is to do with the idea of how outside forces such as the rain, soil and sun influence the growing of a tree, just how external forces influence our personal growth and being. And just how a tree can survive storms, fires and floods, we too can survive the challenges that life throws us.
In what ways might you begin to experiment with these ideas or methodologies?
I think using the tree of life in group work with the students I work with will help in providing an easy and safe way for students to explore their own personal history, skills and knowledge, and to understand how the influences of the the people around them impact their being. I think this could also assist in building a stronger sense of community amongst the student cohort as they could see how their individual trees fit within the ‘forest’ of their peer’s trees.
Sammy Sahni
September 4, 2021Sammy Sahni. Hyderabad, India. Each of these concepts have stirred and sparked a huge interest in me to pursue narrative therapy practices in my future work. Each of the innovation projects affirmed the immense hope of transformation and healing collectively. The tree of life really called out to me, particularly because I use similar activities in my EXA therapy practices with individuals and groups. I am very keen to pursue more work in the social work sector and really called out to use these practices. The work done India and those projects really resonated with me. Using music and its potential by creating songs is such a powerful approach.
Sean
September 3, 2021From Toronto, Canada
I have worked with children for many years and I recognize some techniques I use are varying mediums of expression such as art and music, I feel as though this adds a necessary element of thick description as well that it sussed out crucial elements of information surrounding cultural, racial and community identity. It engages the users in such a way that it is not harmful or threatening. From the community work done in Uganda and the externalized conversations in Malawi I get the sense that these techniques can be used in such a way that fundamentally helps the populations it serves engage in content and psycho education in a holistic and non-threatening, non-judgmental way. I really appreciate instead of attacking a problem by assuming what is wrong we provide space to the population to instead invite us into their world to show us what they may need. It is a refreshing look at how to engage, acknowledge, respect and learn to help those with trauma history (from my perspective).
Karen Becker
August 19, 2021Brisbane Australia
Is there an idea or project that stands out to you most at this time? What about this idea or project has sparked your enthusiasm or curiosity?
I love the Tree of Life project. I think it can be used to help the young people I work with identify the aspects of their past that has shaped them in a good way. This is important as I often work with people who have a lot of conflict at home and focus on the hard issues their parents and families cause them. I think it might thicken their stories to think about the way their family histories have shaped them, good and bad. I like the idea of doing it in a group to help share common experiences but also get ideas or perspectives that they might not have thought of. It could be a way of coming up with strategies to build relationships or resources or skills to cope with the storms in their lives.
In what ways might you begin to experiment with these ideas or methodologies?
I am thinking I could ask a few young people I work with in one school if they want to meet together. They have similar situations and we could discuss the Tree of Life idea together as a way of sharing their common experiences, supporting each other and developing solutions to problems they face.
Siobhan
August 8, 2021Siobhan, social worker, Wurundjeri Country (Melbourne, so-called Australia)
I loved hearing about lots of these different ideas which really demonstrate the scope of possibility offered by NP. I loved the Mt Elgon story, and some points really stayed with me.
“There is always a social history to people’s dreams and wishes. By inviting people to speak about their hopes, and tracing the social history of these, a rich textural heritage is created. This process is referred to as raising heads above the clouds.”
I love the idea of connecting past and present and future in this way – of facilitating people to trace their dreams back to their histories and honour their ancestors and traditions, weaving links between generations and community members. It’s a beautiful thing.
A lot of this work reminds me of the ethics and principles of community development work that I learned in my social work degree. That we should never think of imposing solutions on a community from outside, but rather that each community already has the resources, skills and solutions within itself, and a worker’s role is to know how to draw this out and hold and facilitate change in this way.
I hope that I will have the opportunity in future professional roles to work with groups and communities in such a way.
Crystal Williams
August 5, 2021I am very inspired how through the use of song one can tell their story, and I can totally relate to the sentence regarding the ‘strength in story telling’ that Barbara Wingard is talking about in “Telling our stories in ways that make us stronger.” I am also very appreciative of the innovative project of ‘Young people exchanging Life Saving Tips and preventing discrimination/injustice.’ It reminds me of how through the use of peers, information can be shared that speaks to the target population on a greater scale. (Vernon, BC, Canada)
Henk Ensing
July 30, 2021I’m drawn to using individual’s documents and art as ‘social movement’ (used as a verb) documents to influence very local change. I’m interested in the creation of documents as a contribution to assist others. I have not done this yet. I’m looking for appropriate, ethical and consensual ways to achieve personal healing through small social action.
David Clayton
July 22, 2021Burnie, Tasmania, Australia
I think what stood out to me the most was the work done by Yvonne Sliep and the CARE counsellors with the project that happened in Malawi using the Mr/Mrs HIV/AIDS and Mr/Mrs CARE.
The project had stood out for me the most for the nature of one step-removed with the idea of using characters to discuss problems affecting the community in Malawi. I was curious around the idea and how it could be transferrable to different topics and different groups of people and ages.
As mentioned above. I could see this approach used for different age, culture, topic and gender groups. I would take the idea of a character to represent the problem and another character to represent the solution. It is about viewing a different narrative, one of hope, rather than one of deficit.
Niveen
July 21, 2021The Life Saving Tips really stand out to me, mainly because of the honesty of the story and how relatable they are to my own story but also because it is something I am looking forward to using with a group of clients that I work with that could benefit from this exercise as I have. I want to tweak it to come up with stories of strength or courage in your life to be written as notes with a piece of advice at the end. I want to then get clients to swap these notes with each other as little notes of inspiration in activity we do weekly.
Nikki
July 19, 2021Hi I’m Nikki and I’m from Sydney, Australia.
I really liked the article on how narrative therapy and the use of documents was used to connect two Aboriginal communities – one in Port August, SA, and one in Arnhem Land, NT. I was amazed by how they were able to help each other and connect by sharing experiences of how they have coped with deaths and violence in their communities. It was great to see how these communities, on opposite sides of the country, could be connected through these documents. I wonder whether this technique could be used for other issues in this country right now – Sydney and Victoria are both in lockdown due to a Covid outbreak. I wonder whether documents such as these could be used to convey strategies for coping with isolation from one state to another?
I also like the idea of using documents to help young people who are depressed or suicidal. I may consider using this in my work as a child psychologist.
Alanna Campbell
July 9, 2021Alanna from Edmonton, Canada.
The use of songwriting as ‘rescueing clients’ words and centering their experiences’ was particularly resonating for me as I am also an amateur songwriter and musician, and a social worker. Music is such a collaborative activity, and bringing in the aspect of narrative therapy would amplify the community building aspect of music making – and having a sense of community and belonging can be healing in and of itself.
I do wonder how difficult or easy it may be to get clients to buy-in to this concept if you are starting out on this type of practice and have no examples yet to inspire (I guess, David Denborough’s recordings could be examples). I also question how practitioners are able to work this into their practice, as creative projects do take a lot of time. Is this paid work (it seems to be for Denborough, but not everyone will be in the same situation as a worker) or done during the worker’s own time?
Some things I think would be useful to remember when engaging in this process would be to use culturally appropriate musical forms, instruments, language, etc when working with cultural groups. This may be out of our experience and skill set, though, so collaboration with others who could work with narrative therapists and the clients would be beneficial.
tsering
June 22, 2021Hello,
My name is Tsering, currently living in California. I am absolutely amazed by how Narrative Therapy tools are intelligently adapted in projects across the globe to empower and acknowledge skills and strength in fulfilling community/individual goals and dreams. The Tree of Life projects and Mt. Elgon Self-help community Project were especially empowering. I have used Tree of Life exercise in my work in small groups and on individual levels and found them amazingly useful in making people realize and remember their ancestors, people who touched their lives, their goals and dreams, their skills and abilities, their gifts and what they want to let go. Thank you so much for this space to learn more about Narrative Therapy.
Thank you.
marjorie.espinal@gmail.com
June 28, 2021Is there an idea or project that stands out to you most at this time?
Writing from Costa Rica, The Mt Elgon Self-Help Community Project was one of the initiatives that caught my attention due to the way the community’s traditions and ways were honored.
What about this idea or project has sparked your enthusiasm or curiosity?
The fact that the Community Project interacts with all members of that specific society, elders and children are not left behind but their participation is considered key in order to continue the conversation about hope and sustainability for the whole village.
Kylie Webster
June 21, 2021Narrative practice transcends the cultural limitations that are present in therapy sessions. Narrative practice allows for the focus on individual stories as a way of bridging the gap between the therapist approach on assisting the healing process along with the social work move towards an approach of social action. This can incorporate a collaborative approach to social action and structural reform that is embodied in the various stories of clients and represents the inherently complex approach required to combine both of these approaches.
Manini
June 10, 2021This chapter really reaffirmed the radical potential of narrative; many of the projects question and try to transcend this artificial divide in social work between between healing work that is focused on the individual and collective social action. I think one of the problematic aspects of psychotherapeutic work is that we are often trying to help individuals cope with and adapt to trauma that stems from structural problems – poverty, systemic racism. Narrative practice offers a means to not only acknowledge the structural nature of these problems, but a way of mobilizing social action through the creative use of song, role play, and art. I think this chapter has given me some tools that can be used to explore the challenges, skills, and strengths that people have, and the ways in which they can use these to further their individual goals and mobilize.
Megan M. Matthews
June 6, 2021Megan (“MEE-gan”), writing from Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Is there an idea or project that stands out to you most at this time?
The concept of using song in narrative pracice resonates tremendously with me. I have been a singer since I learned to speak, and all my life the songs that affected me most strongly were those that told a story.
What about this idea or project has sparked your enthusiasm or curiosity?
I am struck by the ways that the use of music in narrative practice could work therapeutically, both with songs played for and by the client and songs written and performed by clients to express their feelings about the situations of their lives.
In what ways might you begin to experiment with these ideas or methodologies?
I have actually already begun using music in my curent practice as a way of explaining or clarifying concepts discussed in group; for example, while talking about self-care and spheres of control the Michael Jackson song “Man In The Mirror” was mentioned by a group participant – and wouldn’t you know every single person in the group knew every single word of the refrain by heart, so everybody started singing. It was a tremendous exercise in building group cohesion, in addition to bringing home the topic of discussion: the idea that in order to be able to change or take care of anything outside ourselves, we have to start with something we know we can control, which is working on getting *ourselves* in order to the best of our ability.
Cathy from Melbourne Australia
June 4, 2021Oh my! What a fabulous collection of projects. I feel blessed to have been able to have a small insight into so many contexts and local practices.
What stands out for me the most is the underpinning of community development principles that keep the decision making with the people instead of imposing external ideal. There is such energy attached to collective involvement at leads to culturally sensitive space for difficult questions.
As a westerner, I’m always reminded at such times of the power of ritual, song, dance and celebration. Other than a footy team’s theme song – my culture doesn’t “celebrate” commitment to new practices/ way forward. I think we would benefit if we could do so with something other than a mug/ fridge magnet/ t-shirt.
TashaRae
June 2, 2021I really like the idea of song as a form of documentation and community strength. It is interesting to think about song as being something that humans have done together for thousands and thousands of years and how it can be used today as a community reflection and form of groups identity development. I think that the videos done by Australian Muslim was also awesome. There is a community here (USA, Nambe Pueblo) that is emphasizing indigenous youth development and identity structuring through film. I think that creative forms of documentation are really challenging to narratives that are not authored by the people who are living with them. I would like to try a “tree of life” project with a family that I am working with. I think am wondering about incorporating the idea of trees as a forest that grows as a family…and hoping that it will be beneficial.
Tsering Yangkey
May 27, 2021Hello,
My name is Tsering, currently living in California. I am absolutely amazed by how Narrative Therapy tools are intelligently adapted in projects across the globe to empower and acknowledge skills and strength in fulfilling community/individual goals and dreams. The Tree of Life projects and Mt. Elgon Self-help community Project were especially empowering. I have used Tree of Life exercise in my work in small groups and on individual levels and found them amazingly useful in making people realize and remember their ancestors, people who touched their lives, their goals and dreams, their skills and abilities, their gifts and what they want to let go. Thank you so much for this space to learn more about Narrative Therapy.
Thank you.
Jo Stanley
May 18, 2021Hi, I’m Jo from Yorkshire, England. Warm greetings, colleagues.
It was great to have the Paulo Friere article as a preface. Because of that I realised that one of the reason I’m so attracted to Narrative Practice is that it can so effective politically; it can be a radical attempted solution to our wider social problems. This was a VERY rich chapter. It meant a lot to me to hear David Denborough’s long radio interview talking about the use of song. (PS copies of the lyrics would have been useful). I can see what a valuable form of documenting, and witnessing, songs can be in community settings, especially prisons.
Thank you.
Anna Fowke
May 16, 2021This chapter really reconnected me to my childhood spent in PNG and many of the efforts my parents were involved in. As I follow the course I am noting the narrative and cultural aspects of the work I am doing and seeing the long-running connections back to childhood and my storytelling background. The whole experience is prompting a deep recognition of how a narrative approach has been there my whole life.
debbie webster
May 15, 2021I was very impressed with the involvement of the community and the diversity of approach that is culturally inclusive. The Tree of Life exercise is a very unique way of working with children, youth and adults and offers a constructive way of allowing these people to provide their story and to outsider witnesses. I also appreciated the life saving tips which I found to be very informative and there is a reminder that knowledge can come in many different forms.
Kristen
May 5, 2021Hi all, I am writing from Ontario, Canada.
I was very pleased to see the range of different ideas on how narrative practices could be implemented in communities. I have actually learned about the Tree of Life exercise before in the context of working with refugee’s and newcomers to Canada. I find it to be a wonderful practice to use to build a sense of community, collective experience, and bring to light values. I am also quite intrigued of the blending of music and song into a narrative perspective. I find this to be a beautiful and powerful form of expression that could work for individuals, families, and communities.
Sandra Owen
April 30, 2021I was moved by many of the stories I heard when traversing through the innovative projects. I found the story of the man who has lived his life through a series of grief. I heard a story of intergenerational trauma and how every time death or loss occurs his trauma emerges and like the oyster shell he is rolling one trauma into another. I heard knowledge and strength in him and the way he narrated his narrative. I was moved and enjoyed listening to how the traumas were externalized through the narrative. It made me consider my cumulations and in interest, I told a tale to myself in the mirror and tried to consider externalizing this information by using my mirror self to act as a outside witness so to speak. It was cathatic. My story was of loss in the first 12 years of my life and how I saw that. I asked myself what effect that had and how I felt about the idea of death and if I was to understand it through an animal what would I consider that animal to be. I thought snake. I had lots of fun with this and saw that I had support I did not recognise and rejected and can re tell my story through the understanding of this support now. Suffice to say I then told myself I recognised the strength and wisdom of my words. It was fun. Not perfect but fun.
Rhian Holmes
April 30, 2021Rhian Holmes from Wales
I also really liked the stories from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. They talked about different ways of grieving and sharing stories of people who have died and how they helped to shape their lives and communities. Encouraging people to remember multiple stories /histories, is really important as there is no single story that reflects the complexity of people’s lives and histories. I liked the word “knowledges” as this really made me think about how valid and important different views and different stories really are.
Grace Hammond
April 28, 2021What stands out to me is the unifying theme of these unique projects. They are all by the community, and for the community, but also for “outsider witnesses.” The “Encyclopedia of young people’s knowledge and life saving tips” was particularly relevant to my work as a high school librarian. I appreciate the phrasing; “survival strategies for when life is full of dramas, special skills in not taking people’s hate into your heart, and stories about what young people have learnt from journeys they have undertaken.” These special projects all include invitations to participation, which separates the work from archives or “tomes of knowledge” and creates a unique relationship between the readers and the authors because the reader can move into the authorship category. The fact that readers can also communicate back with the authors is a gift for everyone involved.
I also think the idea of “tips for survival” connects to what I’ve been noticing about the phrase “knowledges,” which is different from the phrase “knowledge.” When we say “knowledge,” we speak of one body of learning, of knowing, that is singular and cohesive. When we say “knowledges,” we speak in terms of multiple understandings, multiple intelligences, multiple stories, and they are infinite and do not REQUIRE a single understanding or one unifying thread. This is the heart of this practice: how many stories can exist alongside one another, and connecting to one another, and diverging from one another. This is such a gift to the storytellers and storylisteners.
Karina
April 22, 2021Hi! My name is Karina and I reside in Toronto, Canada.
The idea that stands out to me at this time is Outsider Witness; a question that I particularly like is how someone’s story affected the witness.
It ties in with the Self-Help Community Project we learned about above. I particularly like a question on survival strategies/coping mechanisms used in hard times.
In the future, I hope to encourage my clients to use music and lyric writing to express difficult emotions. For those who do not know how to write, I think it would be fitting to encourage clients to create a playlist of songs that speak to emotions they are experiencing.
Grace Love
April 8, 2021Grace, South Australia.
I become more and more grateful for the contribution of everyone in my life; of any book I have read, every movie I have watched, every person I have spoken to. I cannot resist, but say that I am a construction of all those stories shared with me. I cannot deny my essence as being a multitude of everybody else. We are so interconnected by non-invisible threads of our existence. This interconnection is also multidimensional, as it transcends time and space. It connects the past, present, and the future that is yet to come.
Grace
April 8, 2021Grace, South Australia
What stands out for me most for me is the aspect of music that every culture has and every person can relate to. The sound and music can carry a lot: suffering and bliss, the memories, history, solutions, and community connection.
It is interesting how songs and music are the part of our lives. We have music festivals, music concerts in small venues, songs sang around the fire, music to use for relaxation and hypnotherapy, national anthems… just to name a few. Music is everywhere. Music connects.
Rhian Holmes
March 13, 2021Rhian Holmes, Wales UK
I found this chapter moving and informative. The Tree of Life idea looks really helpful for people to see themselves differently, and to recognise their strengths, and is something I will definitely be using in my practice. Also the Tips for Life videos were excellent. Again showing people with lived experience having strengths and sharing their expert knowledge in order to help others – inspirational! These ideas will help me to promote positive narratives in my work with people with mental health difficulties.
Tanisha
March 6, 2021Tanisha V, India
The metaphor of raising our heads above the clouds from Mt. Elgon Self-help community Project was very refreshing. It connected beautifully to mindfulness practices, that even though we can only see stormy clouds right now, the blue sky always exists beyond that. Even if it is temporarily obscured from our view. It also reminded me of a similar metaphor of flying. From the ground we can see the clouds but once the aircraft is in the air we realize that the sky above is clear. Similarly, taking ourselves out of our ‘usual’ positions in relation to an issue can give us a fresh perspective on things. I do realize that not everyone can relate to the experience of flying so it is a metaphor I use with caution.
Telling our stories in ways that make us stronger by Barb Wingard & Jane Lester resonated with me on a deeply personal level. This resource helped me reconnect again in many ways with the memories of my sister. Finding justice for her was an important part of my grieving process otherwise I would still be carrying a lot of anger with me. Reading this excerpt led me to think about more ways in which I can carry her with me in positive and meaningful ways, honour her life, and cherish her love for me. It brought me closer to her and showed me that I can still strengthen this bond even if she is not physically with us anymore.
Michele
March 2, 2021Hi,
I l live in Victoria, BC, Canada. I am presently working toward a Master’s of Counselling degree. In a beautiful bit of synchronicity, this chapter includes a video of Vikki Reynolds of Vancouver, BC speaking about the Dulwich Centre’s Intersectional Feminist Narrative Project. Last term, Vikki Reynolds work was included in some course content. This week, we are exploring Feminist Theory. I am still vibrating at the intersection that I have just stumbled across as I begin my journey into the world of Narrative Therapy. I am remotely learning via the Dulwich Centre, which is half way around the world from me, only to discover a project that I feel passionate about because of my own feminist work and find myself inspired and speared on by the work of a local woman in this field. Below is the quick post I just added to my academic cohort’s discussion board related to this wonderful discovery. Thanks Dulwich Centre!!
Hi,
I LOVE this synchronicity! I have been working through the Dulwich Centre’s free on-line introductory course and came across this video through their Intersectional Feminist Narrative Project. It is a 15-minute video from Vikki Reynolds of Vancouver. Some of her writing crossed our desks in 502, and I used some of her material in my Resistance Project. If you have 15 minutes, this video is rich and current, and relevant to our learning and conversations.
One of Reynolds’ examples around the intersections of feminism really resonates with me. Like Reynolds, and prior to birth control being readily available for unmarried women (let alone adolescents) and before abortion was legalized in Canada (1988), there was an underground network of information for sexually active youth/women. I was privy to this information during my teenage years (1980-1985). I knew that it cost $500 US and the trouble of crossing the border to Seattle to access abortion services. I saw what this meant played out in the lives of young women/friends around me. Reynolds recalls learning that while white women were striving for reproductive rights/services in Canada, indigenous women were being forcibly sterilized in Canada. I have been aware of forcible sterilization, but until these two realities were juxtaposed in this video — I did not see the stark relief. Wow.
Polly Rodgers
February 25, 2021Hi all, I’m Polly from Stroud, UK. I’m a freelance facilitator and researcher. I became interested in narrative practices about 10 years ago when I was volunteering for a community mediation charity in London (at the time the only mediation org – I believe! – in the UK using narrative approaches, sadly closed now). It’s continued to be a thread through my work and now I’m looking for ways to make it more central. I knew about narrative therapy and narrative mediation, but for a long time I’ve been looking for a narrative approach to working with communities. I only came across collective narrative approaches recently. This module really excited me. I was particularly struck by the ‘Little by little we make a bundle’ project and the work of the CARE Counsellors & Yvonne Sliep. I loved the playful way that AIDs and CARE were externalised and given voices as characters with the potential to harm or help the community. I also appreciated the way that symbolism and ritual were incorporated at the end of the project when each member of the community was given one of the sticks that formed the unbreakable bundle, as a reminder of collective strength and the power of standing together.
Kim Leebody
February 16, 2021I really enjoyed this chapter, especially using stories of survival, to talk about resources, skills and hopes for the future. It shifts the conversation from despair to a conversation about internal resources and drive to make life better. The practice enables the whole community to witness each other’s dream and its the community spirit that allowed each member to take their individual steps towards change. I think that the tree of life is an excellent tool for helping people see themselves from another position. It enables an individual to look at their story and the strengths gained from their life. It enables the restoring of sometimes traumatic experiences into the learning that came from the event not withstanding the pain. It offers a both and perspective which can be helpful in helping the person build on their strengths, resilience and experience.
Eleanor
February 7, 2021The project that had really fascinated me was the ‘Little by little we make a bundle’ project which helped to address AIDs and HIV in Malawi. I think like with the sugar paper in the previous chapter, the project involved constructing separate characters to help make the topic of HIV and AIDS a lot less stigmatising so people were able to express their concerns and issues. Since a virus cannot be seen, having the characters ‘Mr/Mrs Care’ and ‘Mr/Mrs AIDS’ provided Malawi citizens a discourse to be able to confront and express their worries without judgement. Another important and incredible part of the project which was introducing a physical metaphor (collectively breaking the tree branch) to emphasise the importance of being there for one another in helping to overcome AIDs and HIV as a community – it must have been very empowering for the Malawi citizens.
Deliwe Monyemangene
April 3, 2021Deliwe Monyemangene from South Africa.
I got lucky to be trained on tree of life by Mrs Ncazelo Mlilo and I also got a chance to witness trained Facilitators implementing it in the communities. I was very much touched by how people received it and how it brought up on change in their lives. This chapter was amazing because it focuses on stories of survival and talk about skills, hopes and dreams for the future. The practice enables members of the community to witness each other’s dreams and it allows an individual to take steps towards change.
abhikmukherjee88@gmail.com
February 5, 2021I really enjoyed this chapter. . As a counselor this chapter is extremely beneficial to me as it helps me to create a safe space for my clients and gives me a better understating of the external factors which are disturbing the client. I work with clients who have faced abuse , the tree of life approach will be extremely beneficial for such cases
alexclaire.es@gmail.com
February 3, 2021Collective Narrative practices and Innovation Projects.
I very much enjoyed this chapter. Responding to the reflection prompts: Is there an idea or project that stands out to you most at this time?
For me it was the Wakhungu and the Mt Elgon project. People sharing stories of pride and survival, the encouragement of outsider witnesses, sharing hopes and dreams and the history and origins of those dreams; the call to action, the documenting and circulating of those commitments. All simple steps and all releasing and powerful.
What about this idea or project has sparked your enthusiasm or curiosity?
In my context, which is more about organisations trying to find ways to flourish, I can see opportunities for this kind of creative approach enabling people to participate in shaping initiatives that will make a difference in their organisations, or their part of their organisations.
In what ways might you begin to experiment with these ideas or methodologies?
There’s a client I’m currently working with, developing a leadership programme with them. Rather than the design being ‘imposed’ top down, I can see some of these approaches helping participants shape the design themselves.
Donnam1
January 26, 2021I really enjoyed this chapter and the opportunity it offers to reflect on how narrative therapy can be used to respond to groups and communities who have experienced oppression and injustices. I particularly liked how this approach offers multiple mediums such as role-play, song and art to foster resilience, meaning making and recounting experiences in a way that strengthens links to family and cultural backgrounds without retraumatising. I particularly liked the tree of Life in this regard and how the combining of the collective Trees lends itself to a powerful narrative and the “forest of Life”. Donna Ireland.
flora.sugarman@gmail.com
January 25, 2021The Tree of Life stands out to me as a particularly useful tool as well as using song as a response to hardship and trauma. They stand out to me because of the ability of arts (whether they be visual, performance, etc.) to heal and connect people. I’m drawn to these projects and tools because of their use of art as a universal language that transcends borders and differences. I think these tools can be used across many different contexts and could be particularly useful in the current pandemic in which people still have access to these arts and can use them as a source of connection amidst the panic and worry that many are feeling at the moment.