Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends [Hardcover]

Michael White (Author), David Epston (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0393700984 | ISBN-13: 978-0393700985 | Publication Date: May 17, 1990 | Edition: 1

Use of letter-writing in family therapy.

White and Epston base their therapy on the assumption that people experience problems when the stories of their lives, as they or others have invented them, do not sufficiently represent their lived experience. Therapy then becomes a process of storying or restorying the lives and experiences of these people. In this way narrative comes to play a central role in therapy. Both authors share delightful examples of a storied therapy that privileges a person’s lived experience, inviting a reflexive posture and encouraging a sense of authorship and reauthorship of one’s experiences and relationships in the telling and retelling of one’s story.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael White (1948–2008), one of the founders of narrative therapy and co-director of the Dulwich Centre, an institute for narrative practice and community work in Adelaide, Australia, made significant contributions to psychotherapy and family therapy. He is the author of Maps of Narrative Practice and co-author of Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends.

David Epston, M.A., C.Q.S.W. is coauthor of Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends (1990) and Playful Approaches to Serious Problems (1997). He is a visiting professor at the School of Community Studies, UNITEC Institute of Technology in Auckland, and is the codirector of the Family Therapy Centre in Auckland.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1 edition (May 17, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393700984
• ISBN-13: 978-0393700985
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,721 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #46 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Compulsive Behavior

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Starting Point of Narrative Therapy, December 22, 2001

By 

Geoffrey L Smith - See all my reviews

This review is from: Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends (Hardcover)

This is the book that started the current focus on narrative therapy. There are only four chapters in this book and each explains a large part of narrative counseling. One of the best chapters is on how the process of "externalizing" works. Another good chapter is about how writing letters and making documents for clients can be an effective therapy tool.

Although this book is over ten years old, it is still the first book that someone should read when learning about narrative counseling.

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A left hand turn in therapy (for the better)., August 8, 2005

By 

A. Jessie Kerr Halls "JKH" (Vancouver Island, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends (Hardcover)

I was surprised to read the other negative reviews of this book. This book is, after all, the text which defined the philisophical underpinning of a new way of looking at expertise in therapy. Yes, much of the book, especially the discussion of Foucault's ideas, is hard going and at times requires a second or even third read. This is not a "how to" book. It is an invitation to a way of thinking about problems and their role in a life. It is a book about the transformative value of conversations, viewpoints and relationship. This book is not for sissies, but it is brilliant. Those who want a "narrative primer" should be able to find one elsewhere. However, they will be skipping the magic of transformative thought. Michael White and David Epston have unleased the power of alternatives for those oppressed by problems and by society. An amazing read!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Theoretical Understanding, February 25, 2006

By 

Michele Shay "Marriage and Family Therapy Gra... (Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends (Hardcover)

This book is a great resource for developing a theoretical understanding of narrative therapy. Specific techniques such as letter writing and certificates are described in detail. However, if you are looking for a how-to guide on narrative therapy, I would suggest "Playful approaches to serious problems: Narrative therapy with children and their families" by Freeman, J., Epston, D., & Lobvits, D. (1997).