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Letter to the Editors

Letter to the Editors 14/11/00 confronting and doing battle with problems. This was appar­ ent to me both in Australia and in North America. 1 am not Dear Editors, alone in these views, as some of the work of Karl Tomm and 1 was fascinated to read the commentaries on narrative Jenny Freeman had begun highlighting this (their work is therapy in the September issue of your journal (Vol. 21 referenced in my 1997 Gecko paper listed below). No.3). Consequently, 1 began exploring alternative metaphors 1 very much appreciated the statement from Carmel for externalising conversations, as a contribution to shifting Flaskas concerning her approach: '1 would tend to think of this over-emphasis which 1 believed was doing the narrative frames of connection rather than frames of separation, and therapy field a disservice, both among narrative and non­ would try to integrate difficult emotional experience, even and might not be helpful narratively influenced therapists, if it has been destructive .. .' (122). 1 also appreciate Kathy to clients. Rather than attempt to repeat these ideas in this Weingarten's position of gratitude towards Michael White short letter, 1 refer you to the following articles that you and his remarkable contributions. may find helpful in supporting your own ideas and encour­ 1 would like to add further commentary about my own age you to consider presenting and writing on them so that experience of the limitations of Michael's work. these ideas have a stronger presence in the wider field. 1 Externalising the problem is a great tool for opening up would also suggest following up Kathy Weingarten's work therapeutic contributions with people. It seems to me, on illness narratives and drawing on examples from Jenny however, that Michael's work seems to offer only one possi­ Freeman's (1997) book entitled Playful Approaches to Serious bility for proceeding with the externalised problem, which Problems: Narrative Therapy Approaches with Children and is to confront it in some way. The language frequently used their Families which she co-authored with David Epston in this process seems to be a language of 'power over' and and Dean Lobovits. what 1 would call the language of a war metaphor. 1 view Stacey, K., 1997. Alternative Metaphors for Externalizing this type of approach and languaging as a systemic way of Conversations, Gecko: A Journal of Deconstruction and supporting current dominant power relationships, particu­ Narrative Ideas in Therapy, 1, 1: 29-51. larly those around gender which are typical of patriarchal Stacey, K., 1997. From Imposition to Collaboration: relationships. My personal/political commitments have led Generating Stories of Learning and Problem-solving me to explore and develop other inclusive and more peace­ Competence. In D. Nylund and C. Smith (Eds), ful ways of approaching differences and conflict. Notable in Narrative Therapies with Children and Adolescents, NY, this is the possibility of opening up a negotiation scenario Guilford. (Other chapters in this book are also likelyto be with the problem. This kind of alternative approach does useful regarding alternative metaphors). not seem to me to be very evident in the work of narrative Stacey, K. and Hills, D. (in press). More than Protest: therapists whom I've encountered. I'd be very interested to Further Explorations of Alternative Metaphors in know what thoughts other people have on this. Narrative Work, ANZJFT (This paper is co-written with Yours sincerely, one of my clientswho I also considera colleague.) Jill Fisher The last paper is due to be published in this journal, proba­ 11 Miles Street bly in September 2001. Another paper, currently titled Tweed Heads NSW 2485 'Continuing Thoughts on Alternative Metaphors in Narrative Therapy Approaches' is in development and expected to appear in Gecko during 2001. 1 am glad to hear Reply people voice the concerns that you have and trust that Dear Jill, people will engage in ongoing dialogue in order to foster a The editors invited me to respond to your letter given my critical edge to our theories and practices. writings on the matters you highlight. 1 became concerned Yours sincerely, about the misunderstandings 1 perceived people had about Kathleen Stacey externalising conversations and metaphors in which they are situated, particularly noticing the over-use and/or over­ beyond... (Kathleen Stacey & Associates) emphasis on the 'protest' metaphor with its notions of 16 Avenue Rd, Cumberland Park, SA 5041 38 ANlJFT March 2001 http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy Wiley

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Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
"Copyright © 2001 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company"
ISSN
0814-723X
eISSN
1467-8438
DOI
10.1002/j.1467-8438.2001.tb01300.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

14/11/00 confronting and doing battle with problems. This was appar­ ent to me both in Australia and in North America. 1 am not Dear Editors, alone in these views, as some of the work of Karl Tomm and 1 was fascinated to read the commentaries on narrative Jenny Freeman had begun highlighting this (their work is therapy in the September issue of your journal (Vol. 21 referenced in my 1997 Gecko paper listed below). No.3). Consequently, 1 began exploring alternative metaphors 1 very much appreciated the statement from Carmel for externalising conversations, as a contribution to shifting Flaskas concerning her approach: '1 would tend to think of this over-emphasis which 1 believed was doing the narrative frames of connection rather than frames of separation, and therapy field a disservice, both among narrative and non­ would try to integrate difficult emotional experience, even and might not be helpful narratively influenced therapists, if it has been destructive .. .' (122). 1 also appreciate Kathy to clients. Rather than attempt to repeat these ideas in this Weingarten's position of gratitude towards Michael White short letter, 1 refer you to the following articles that you and his remarkable contributions. may find helpful in supporting your own ideas and encour­ 1 would like to add further commentary about my own age you to consider presenting and writing on them so that experience of the limitations of Michael's work. these ideas have a stronger presence in the wider field. 1 Externalising the problem is a great tool for opening up would also suggest following up Kathy Weingarten's work therapeutic contributions with people. It seems to me, on illness narratives and drawing on examples from Jenny however, that Michael's work seems to offer only one possi­ Freeman's (1997) book entitled Playful Approaches to Serious bility for proceeding with the externalised problem, which Problems: Narrative Therapy Approaches with Children and is to confront it in some way. The language frequently used their Families which she co-authored with David Epston in this process seems to be a language of 'power over' and and Dean Lobovits. what 1 would call the language of a war metaphor. 1 view Stacey, K., 1997. Alternative Metaphors for Externalizing this type of approach and languaging as a systemic way of Conversations, Gecko: A Journal of Deconstruction and supporting current dominant power relationships, particu­ Narrative Ideas in Therapy, 1, 1: 29-51. larly those around gender which are typical of patriarchal Stacey, K., 1997. From Imposition to Collaboration: relationships. My personal/political commitments have led Generating Stories of Learning and Problem-solving me to explore and develop other inclusive and more peace­ Competence. In D. Nylund and C. Smith (Eds), ful ways of approaching differences and conflict. Notable in Narrative Therapies with Children and Adolescents, NY, this is the possibility of opening up a negotiation scenario Guilford. (Other chapters in this book are also likelyto be with the problem. This kind of alternative approach does useful regarding alternative metaphors). not seem to me to be very evident in the work of narrative Stacey, K. and Hills, D. (in press). More than Protest: therapists whom I've encountered. I'd be very interested to Further Explorations of Alternative Metaphors in know what thoughts other people have on this. Narrative Work, ANZJFT (This paper is co-written with Yours sincerely, one of my clientswho I also considera colleague.) Jill Fisher The last paper is due to be published in this journal, proba­ 11 Miles Street bly in September 2001. Another paper, currently titled Tweed Heads NSW 2485 'Continuing Thoughts on Alternative Metaphors in Narrative Therapy Approaches' is in development and expected to appear in Gecko during 2001. 1 am glad to hear Reply people voice the concerns that you have and trust that Dear Jill, people will engage in ongoing dialogue in order to foster a The editors invited me to respond to your letter given my critical edge to our theories and practices. writings on the matters you highlight. 1 became concerned Yours sincerely, about the misunderstandings 1 perceived people had about Kathleen Stacey externalising conversations and metaphors in which they are situated, particularly noticing the over-use and/or over­ beyond... (Kathleen Stacey & Associates) emphasis on the 'protest' metaphor with its notions of 16 Avenue Rd, Cumberland Park, SA 5041 38 ANlJFT March 2001

Journal

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family TherapyWiley

Published: Mar 1, 2001

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