New Book
The American Psychological Association (APA) will release Stephen Madigan’s new book Narrative Therapy – theory and practice on December 15th, 2010.
The APA has released Stephen’s 2010, 300 minute, six part live session DVD series of his work entitled Narrative Therapy Through Time. Go to www.apa.org/pubs/videos/4310879.aspx.
David Epston’s book review:
Stephen was virtually ‘there’ from the very beginning of narrative therapy (circa 1986) and was one of its first scholar/practitioners. Within this book, you will be treated to two histories: a history of the foundational ideas of narrative therapy along with that of the creation of his own versions of these ideas-in-practice for which he received the AFTA award for ‘Innovation in Family Therapy (2007). The intertwining of these two histories makes for scintillating reading!
David Epston MA – co-creator of Narrative Therapy and – co-author Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends. Auckland, New Zealand
Imelda McCarthy’s book review:
Stephen Madigan loves a good question and here in this book he brings Narrative Therapy’s questions alive. He is his parent’s son, he is Ireland’s son, he is Canada’s son with all the genius of the story teller from those contexts. This book is also an apprentice’s tale, the story of a life-long learner in all situations and relationships. It is full of rigour and imagination, tenacity and creativity. Most of all it sparkles with humour and is an easy, compelling read. Throughout, he privileges ethics, relationship and a post-structuralist re-citing. The practices described are critical in all senses of the word. By excavating and co-creating the ‘unique’ in all of us (‘service users’ and ‘professionals’) he provides vital and necessary countering practices to the intrusions of a globalised ‘expert’ stance premised on profit motives, deficiency discourse and lowest common denominator knowledge This ‘expert’ stance has the enormous potential for ‘dumbing down’ through the process of a normativising professional gaze caught in an oscillating and confusing dance of imagined perfections and projected deficiencies. Thank you Stephen for this timely re-membering.
Imelda McCarthy PhD, Fifth Province Centre, Dublin Ireland
John Winslade’s book review:
Stephen Madigan gives us a guided tour of the house where narrative practice lives and breathes. Along the way he points out the family photos on the wall. He lifts the rug on psychological practice and points out what often gets swept under there. He tells stories about the renovation work that has gone on. He then invites us into conversation with others who are gathered there. These conversations are rich with energy, robust with critical sharpness and heady with hope. Madigan is not at all naïve about what narrative practice is up against, particularly within the stifling climate of North American psychology. Instead he shows us his own craft, traces his apprenticeship and points us in new directions. It turns out that this house is still being added to, still being designed even. And yet it already stands out as a local landmark and a place worth visiting and lingering for more than passing hour. Enjoy your visit!
John Winslade, PhD, Professor and Associate Dean, College of Education at California State University San Bernardino and Associate Professor at the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
David Nylund’s review:
Stephen Madigan has done a brilliant job of conveying narrative therapy in a manner that is accessible while maintaining the richness and complexity of the concepts and practices. He seamlessly connects the theories that inform narrative therapy and the interventions the flow from those ideas. Dr. Madigan is to be admired for his commitment and passion for circulating narrative practices to the larger therapy community. Bravo!
David Nylund, MSW, PhD, Sacramento State University and River Rock Counseling
Elliot Goldner’s review:
This book by Stephen Madigan lays open the ideas of Narative Therapy, while also revealing its heart and soul. The reader is taken along a personal journey that roots one’s understanding of theory and practice in a solid bedrock of history and real-life experience. The story of Narrative Therapy is told with humor and passion and is a joy to read. This is a wonderful book for all who wish to gain a deep-seated understanding of this important therapy. Dr. Elliot M. Goldner (MD, MHSc, FRCPC. Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada
More information on how to purchase Stephen’s new book will be posted closer to their release date.