Collective narrative practice: Responding to individuals, groups, and communities who have experienced trauma

by David Denborough

This book introduces a range of hopeful methodologies to respond to individuals, groups and communities who are experiencing hardship. These approaches are deliberately easy to engage with and can be used with children, young people and adults. The methodologies described narrative documentsenabling contributions through exchanging messages and convening definitional ceremoniesthe Tree of responding to vulnerable childrenthe Team of giving young people a sporting chancechecklists of social and psychological resistancecollective narrative timelinesmaps of historysongs of sustenance.To illustrate these approaches, stories are shared from Australia, Southern Africa, Israel, Ireland, USA, Palestine, Rwanda and elsewhere. This book also breaks new ground in considering how responding to trauma also involves responding to social issues. How can our work contribute not only to ‘healing’ but also to ‘social movement’? As we work with the stories of people’s lives can we contribute to the remaking of folk culture? And is it possible to move beyond the dichotomy of individualism/collectivism? Collective narrative practices are now being engaged with in many different parts of the world. This book invites the reader to engage with these approaches in their own ways.

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 23, 2023