Narrative therapies with children and adolescents

the long version

Many family therapy models inadvertently support the antiquated maxim that children should be seen and not heard, concentrating on "adult talk" and overlooking or discounting children's and adolescents' distinctive wisdom and abilities. Conversely, play therapy approaches, with their focus on long-term, expert-oriented, intrapsychic issues, often obscure the pressing contextual concerns of parents. Bringing together an array of renowned, highly creative contributors, this much-needed book demonstrates how narrative and collaborative work with young people can bridge the gap between the seemingly disparate worlds of adults and children - and can foster unique and imaginative solutions to even the most challenging clinical problems. Showcasing approaches as creative and playful as young clients themselves, the book presents therapy as a dialogue of discovery. Through transcripts and compelling case examples, contributors illuminate how drama, art, play, and humor can be used effectively to engage with children of different ages, and to honor their idiosyncratic language, knowledge, and perspective.