Customer Reviews

Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends

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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.

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!

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).

It's great to couple this book with the Gerald Monk et al. book "Narrative therapy practices: The archaeology of hope". Both provide gentle, insightful introductions to this emerging counseling practice, and moreover, offer "real world" examples and exercises for group and individual practice.

Narrative means is the foundation for narrative therapy. This book provides the foundational theoretical and some clinical applications for narrative therapy. The major contribution is the role narrative therapists play in advocating for their clients as demonstrated in the use of letter writing. This approach challenges more traditional therapy models to be grounded in the lived experiences and communities of their clients as well as advocate for needed changes when necessary. This is a great and essential place to begin learning about narrative therapy.

The late Michael White inspired a fresh approach to therapy for the troubled individual. The focus is on externalizing "The Problem". This book most aptly guides you through the reasoning, the techniques, and the successes of Narrative Therapy. It is an excellent work.

I'm a professional psychotherapist. I got interested in this book after reading a recent article about how survivors of rape, torture and other violence in Sudan were being helped with brief narrative therapy. Learning about a fresh approach to a seemingly impossible therapeutic task inspired me. I decided to learn more about it. I'm afraid I didn't learn much from this book.

The book combines clinical examples with a murky, overintellectualized rehash of social constructivist theory. The theory seemed tedious and ultimately useless. The clinical examples were not particularly inspiring or enlightening. I guess I'll have to buy another book on this topic. This one won't remain long on my bookshelf.

TM