Reconstructing identities and inviting preferred stories of self: Narrative practices in mental health settings and prisons by Marilyn O’Neill and Gaye Stockell
Gaye Stockell and Marilyn O’Neill have been engaging with narrative ideas for well over twenty years. They were two of the first practitioners to use ‘re-authoring practices’ within psychiatric settings.
In this video presentation they look back to the ‘Worthy of Discussion Groups’ that took place in a community mental health rehabilitation service. They describe how these groups involved reconstructing identities and inviting preferred stories of self.
Marilyn and Gaye also discuss how they are now engaged with people in reconstructing identities in many other contexts, including within prisons.
We invite your reflections on this video and the social construction of identity.
Further reading (free to download)
O’Neill, M. (2004). ‘Researching “suicidal thoughts” and archiving young people’s insider knowledges.’ International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work, 3:38-40. and Angela, Brett & Jess (2004). ‘A conversation with Angela, Brett and Jess about suicidal thoughts, failure and resistance.’ International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work, 3:41-42.
Stockell, G. & O’Neill, M. (1999). ‘Bridging the gap: Conversations about mental illness experiences’. In Dulwich Centre Publications (eds): Narrative Therapy & Community Work: A conference collection (chapter 14), pp.125-136. Adelaide: Dulwich Centre Publications
Bibliography
Burr, V. (1995). An introduction to social construction. New York: Routledge.
Hamkins, S. (2005) ‘Introducing narrative psychiatry: Narrative approaches to initial psychiatric consultations’ International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work, 1:5-17.
O’Neill, M. & Stockell, G. 1991: ‘Worthy of Discussion: Collaborative Group Therapy.’ Australia & New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 12(4)
White, M. (1995). ‘Psychotic experience and discourse (Stewart, K. interviewer).’ in Re-Authoring Lives: Interviews & essays (chapter 5), pp.112-154. Adelaide: Dulwich Centre Publications.
White, M. (1997). Narratives of Therapists’ Lives. (Chapters I, IV, IX, X). Adelaide: Dulwich Centre Publications.
Worrall, A. (2008). When your child is diagnosed with schizophrenia: The skills and knowledges of parents International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work, (4), 27-37.
