Search results

1 – 2 of 2
Per page
102050
Citations:
Loading...
Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 10 August 2015

Catherine Gardner-Elahi and Sannam Zamiri

Narrative Therapy offers thinking and practices which can support the development of narratives of desistance and recovery. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the two ways in…

487

Abstract

Purpose

Narrative Therapy offers thinking and practices which can support the development of narratives of desistance and recovery. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the two ways in which collective narrative practice has been used in a Low Secure Forensic Recovery Service: The Tree of Life and the Knowledge Group, including the evaluation of the Knowledge Group.

Design/methodology/approach

The therapeutic approach taken was collective narrative practice. The evaluation design for the Knowledge Group was service user led, resulting in a qualitative approach: a focus group that was thematically analysed.

Findings

Collective narrative practice offered service users the opportunity to enhance their narratives of strength and desistance, and to contribute socially by sharing this with others. This encouraged the development of identities beyond the “patient” and “offender” identities. It gave service users the opportunity to take a position of expertise and power where they were listened to and respected.

Research limitations/implications

There is a wide range of possibility for the creative use of these strategies in forensic settings. They are a useful addition to the forensic practitioner’s toolkit.

Practical implications

There is a wide range of possibility for the creative use of these strategies in forensic settings. They are a useful addition to the forensic practitioner’s toolkit.

Social implications

Collective narrative practice positions service users as taking social action, for example sharing their experiences with other services users, in educational contexts and for wider social understanding.

Originality/value

The therapeutic interventions described offer a promising approach which has not yet been fully exploited for use in forensic mental health services, including a novel approach to collective narrative practice.

Details

Journal of Forensic Practice, vol. 17 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-8794

Keywords

Available. Content available
Article
Publication date: 10 August 2015

Neil Gredecki and Carol Ireland

160

Abstract

Details

Journal of Forensic Practice, vol. 17 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-8794

1 – 2 of 2
Per page
102050