Michael White (psychotherapist)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michael White (b. December 29, 1948 - d. April 5, 2008[1]) was the founder of narrative therapy, a significant contribution to psychotherapy and family therapy and a source of techniques adopted by other approaches. White was a practicing social worker and family therapist, was co-director of the Dulwich Centre[2] in Adelaide, South Australia, and was author of several books of importance in the field of family therapy and narrative therapy. In January 2008, White set up the Adelaide Narrative Therapy Centre [3] to provide counselling services and training workshops relevant to work with individuals, couples, families, groups and communities and to provide a context for exploring recent developments relevant to narrative practice." [4]

Michael White was also particularly known for his work with children and Indigenous Aboriginal communities, as well as with schizophrenia, anorexia/bulimia, men's violence, and trauma.


Contents

[edit] Influences

While early influences included those of systems theory and cybernetics (Gregory Bateson) [5], White's main work drew on a wide range of sources, including literary theory (Jerome Bruner), cultural anthropology (Clifford Geertz, Barbara Myerhoff, Victor Turner), non-structuralist psychology (William James, Lev Vygotsky), and French critical / post-structuralist philosophy (Jacques Derrida, and Michel Foucault). [6]

[edit] Theoretical and practice innovations

Key therapeutic ideas developed by White include 'externalizing the problem'[7], commonly summarised as 'the person is not the problem, the problem is the problem'; 're-authoring' the dominant stories of people's lives; and the idea of 'double-listening' to accounts of trauma: not only the accounts of trauma itself, but how people have responded to trauma.

Key practices of narrative therapy and 'maps' of narrative practice include:

  • The statement of position map / externalising conversations map
  • Re-authoring conversations
  • Re-membering conversations
  • Definitional ceremonies
  • Scaffolding conversations
  • The absent but implicit
  • Responding to personal failure conversations[8]

[edit] Awards, honours, and invitations

  • International Fellow, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
  • Masters Interview, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Conference, San Francisco, 1989.
  • Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, John F. Kennedy University, Orinda, California.
  • Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory & Practice Award, American Family Therapy Academy, 1999.[9]

[edit] Books by Michael White

Michael White's books have also been published in Danish, Spanish, Japanese, Swedish, Italian, German, Chinese, and French.

[edit] Interviews in professional publications

  • White, M. (1991). Outside expert knowledge. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 12(4), 207-214. Interviewed by Andrew Wood.
  • White, M. (1993). The politics of therapy. Human Systems: The Journal of Systemic Consultation and Management, 4, 19-32. Interviewed by Leslie Allen.
  • White, M. (1994). A conversation about accountability. Dulwich Centre Newsletter, (2&3), 68-79. Interviewed by Christopher McLean.
  • White, M. (1994). The narrative perspective in therapy. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 2(1), 71-83. Interviewed by Bubenzer, D.L., West, J.D., & Boughner, S.R.
  • White, M. (1995). Schools as communities of acknowledgment. Dulwich Centre Newsletter, Nos.2&3, 51-66. Interviewed by Christopher McLean.
  • White, M. (1996). On ethics and the spiritualities of the surface: A conversation with Michael White. In Hoyt, M.F. (Ed.), Constructive Therapies 2. New York: Guilford Press.
  • White, M. (1998). Then and now... AFTA Newsletter, 74 (Winter), 43-47.
  • White, M. (1999). Diversity and family therapy. Context: Magazine for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice, 46 (December).
  • White, M. (2000). An exploration of aesthetics. Context: Magazine for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice, 47 (January).
  • White, M. (2001). Direction and discovery: A conversation about power and politics in narrative therapy.’ In Hoyt, M.F. (Ed.), Interviews with Brief Therapy Experts. (Philadelphia: Brunner-Routledge).

[edit] Magazine articles and radio features

[edit] References

  1. ^ Narrative therapy founder dies, ABC News, 7 Apr 2008
  2. ^ Dulwich Centre
  3. ^ Dulwich Centre Email News, January 2008 Issue # 25
  4. ^ Adelaide Narrative Therapy Centre
  5. ^ White, M. & Epston, D. (1990). Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends, pp. 1-2.
  6. ^ White, M. (2007). Maps of Narrative Practice. (New York: W.W. Norton)
  7. ^ Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends, pp. 54-56.
  8. ^ Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends; Maps of Narrative Practice; White, M. (2000). Reflections on Narrative Practice Adelaide, South Australia: Dulwich Centre Publications.
  9. ^ AFTA Awards page Accessed 6 May 2008.

[edit] See also

Narrative therapy

[edit] External links

Languages