...in collaboration with Hinck-Dellcrest Institute

Narrative therapy ideas and practices provide therapists with ways of quickly engaging people in deeply meaningful and useful conversations. These practices are a perfect fit for settings in which just a brief encounter with clients is possible, such as walk-in clinics or single to three sessions. The presenter will share discoveries made during her seven years working at a walk-in clinic and providing two-session consultations, about what aspects of narrative practice are particularly useful in brief contexts. Remarkable conversations that are “enough” can take place in one or two meetings when the therapist has knowledge and skills that allow for respectful engagement in meaningful conversation quickly.

Participants will learn about:

• Pre-session questions that begin to shift meaning and create change
• How to co-develop a useful and meaningful focus for the conversation
• A narrative conversation guideline for time limited therapy
• Developing detailed, rich stories of people's values, skills and abilities
• Taking in-session notes that create take-home documents for the client

Lunch will be provided. Registration begins at 8:30am.

About Karen Young, M.S.W.

Karen is a faculty member with Brief Therapy Training Centres International, teaching in the Institute’s Narrative Therapy Training Program and in the year-long clinical extern program in Brief and Narrative Therapy. She is the Manager of Clinical Services at Reach Out Centre for Kids in Burlington where she provides narrative supervision to staff and single session therapy services at the walk-in therapy clinic. She is a therapist with 24 years of experience working with children and families and has situated her therapeutic conversations within narrative practices for 19 years. Karen has provided narrative training and consultation to many agencies across southern Ontario and assisted several to plan and initiate their own walk-in clinics.