Table Of Content00-Payne-3351-Prelims.qxd 12/26/2005 9:56 AM Page i
n a r r a t ive
t h e r a p y
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Martin Payne
n a r r a t ive
t h e r a p y
second edition
An Introduction for Counsellors
SAGE Publications
London ●Thousand Oaks ● New Delhi
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© Martin Payne 2006
First published 2000
Reprinted 2002,2003,2004
Second edition published 2006
Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes ofresearch or private
study,or criticism or review,as permitted under the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act,1988,this publication may be
reproduced,stored or transmitted in any form,or by any means,
only with the prior permission in writing ofthe publishers,or in
the case ofreprographic reproduction,in accordance with the
terms oflicences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.
Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be
sent to the publishers.
SAGE Publications Ltd
1 Oliver’s Yard
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London EC1Y 1SP
SAGE Publications Inc.
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks,California 91320
SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication data
A catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library
ISBN 1-4129-2012-4 ISBN 978-1-4129-2012-4
ISBN 1-4129-2013-2 ISBN 978-1-4129-2013-1 (pbk)
Library ofCongress Control Number available
Typeset by C&M Digitals (P) Ltd.,Chennai,India
Printed and bound in Great Britain by TJ International Ltd,Padstow,Cornwall
Printed on paper from sustainable resources
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For Mary
valued colleague,loved partner
and (second edition)
in memoriam Patricia (‘Pat’) Collins
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Contents
Foreword by John McLeod viii
Acknowledgements ix
Preface to the Second Edition x
Introduction 1
1 An Overview ofNarrative Therapy 5
2 Ideas Informing Narrative Therapy 18
3 Assisting the Person to Describe the Problem 37
4 Encouraging a Wider Perspective on the Problem 60
5 Asking Questions 80
6 Therapeutic Documents 101
7 Telling and Re-telling 126
8 Examples ofNarrative Practice I:Counselling for Depression,
and for Recovery from Abuse 140
9 A Fresh Look at Assumptions in the Therapy Culture 157
10 Examples ofNarrative Practice II:Counselling for Post-traumatic
Reactions,and in Working with Couples 181
Postscript 193
Appendix:An Exercise in Co-supervision using Narrative
Therapy Practices 194
References 197
Index 203
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Foreword
This is a fascinating and important book.Martin Payne is a British counsellor who
underwent his initial training and professional socialization in a person-centred
tradition which emphasizes core concepts such as self,actualization,congruence,
acceptance and empathy.He has subsequently found a source ofmeaning and influ-
ence in the work ofMichael White and David Epston and their ‘narrative therapy’.
His book tells the story of how he has assimilated and integrated these influences
into his practice,and indeed into his whole way ofmaking sense ofthe world.He
tells us a lot about the ways in which he has evolved an appropriately narrative-
informed practice,and in doing so reveals an approach which clearly allows him to
engage actively and fully with the lives ofpeople in a highly affirming and creative
manner.Towards the end ofthe book he also writes about his struggle to come to
terms with the moral and philosophical implications of some of Michael White’s
ideas.Unlike the majority ofcounselling writing currently being published,this is a
genuinely radical book.There is much to reflect on here both for those who are
sympathetic to the narrative approach,and for those who would question its effec-
tiveness.The radical and perplexing nature ofnarrative therapy is clearly illustrated
in Martin Payne’s account.As a way of responding to people who come for help
with ‘problems in living’,his approach to narrative counselling is supportive,pur-
poseful and well received.Yet at the same time,the therapist’s conception ofwhat he
or she is trying to do is quite different from that ofmost contemporary counsellors
and psychotherapists.At one level,this difference can be seen to generate novel tech-
niques and interventions (for example, writing letters to clients). But, as Martin
Payne clearly acknowledges, at another level letter writing and other narrative-
informed methods arenot merely techniques to be slotted in to a counsellor’s reper-
toire,but are indicative of a different way of understanding what therapy is,and
what it should be.My own view is that narrative therapy is postpsychological,and
forms part of a broad movement that has recognized the extent to which psycho-
logical models and concepts have contributed not only to the diffusion of what
Kenneth Gergen has called a ‘language ofdeficit’but also to the erosion ofcollective
and communal forms oflife and being in relationship.Martin Payne has done us all
a great service in describing some ofthe ways in which counselling practice can be
re-imagined from a more culturally and socially-oriented perspective.
John McLeod
University ofAbertay
Dundee
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Acknowledgements
Michael White found time to discuss the structure and content ofthe first edition
and to read and comment on that edition’s Chapter 9.I thank him for this,and
for his general encouragement.Email dialogue with Don Meichenbaum was valu-
able in helping me to formulate my ideas on work with persons affected by post-
traumatic reactions.I am grateful to John McLeod for the time he gave to reading
the text and for writing a Foreword which is so sensitive to my intentions.
I thank Barrie Mencher for searching out references in F.R. Leavis’s writings.
Rose Battye,Peter Emerson and Freda Sharpe helped me greatly by reading and
commenting on early drafts ofthe first edition;Freda was committed and untir-
ing in sifting through much ofthe text and discussing nuances ofwording,often
suggesting excellent emendations,and making cogent general points which I was
able to apply to other parts ofthe book.Mark Hayward kindly gave me copies of
his notes on Scaffolding Conversations, which have added much to my under-
standing of this map of practice.Jane Speedy’s perceptive comments on the first
edition helped me to reconsider much of Chapter 6. Peter Emerson and Mary
Wilkinson have hugely contributed to my thinking about narrative therapy through
regular discussions over the years.I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Mary,
who introduced me to narrative therapy in the first place,read and discussed versions
ofthe manuscript in both editions,explored and clarified unfamiliar ideas,suggested
many important emendations,noted errors oftyping and punctuation,and gave great
personal support.
I thank all the Sage Publications staffinvolved in the planning and production
ofthe book;their support and professionalism have been invaluable.
People who consult me remain my principal source oflearning and inspiration
about how persons can live fulfilled lives despite injustice,abuse,disappointment,
confusion,trauma and tragedy.Those who gave permission for their stories to be
used in this book did so in the generous hope that others might benefit.
