experience is because it is in fact yourself that is wrong, not that which is being Is narrative therapy imposed on you. Safety and freedom can provide opportunities that are necessary to systemic? explore and discover preferred alternatives to entrenched moral authorities. The alternatives could relate more to choices Mark Hayward and possibilities regarding diff erent ways of being, thinking or perceiving, rather Th e frequent separation of narrative A theme that runs through many than prescriptions or promotions for and systemic ideas in the minds of criticisms of NT is about whether it is any particular alternative. I know from practitioners, trainers and academics has mostly for individuals, whether it’s more experience I can be equally conformist to limited the inclusion of narrative skills complex than other family therapy models something presented as an a/b alternative, on systemic courses as well as in family (if it’s even seen as family therapy at as to something conventional, merely therapy journals. Relationships between all) and whether it acknowledges other replacing one authority with another. narrative and other family therapists systemic writers. In short, is it outside I know for a long time I just wanted have sometimes been uneasy, at the least. systemic territory? someone to tell me what to do and I would I have responded elsewhere (Hayward, have followed. I needed to develop a 2000; 2003) to criticisms levelled against Things were looking divisive level of trust in myself to try new things narrative therapy (NT) of isolationism, Well I learned a whole new meaning of and look around without paralysing fear. desertion of the family, exclusive language, “systemic” recently. Conference colleagues To glimpse that there were alternative sectarianism, colonialism and ethical from North America and Australia told ways of being that were life-affi rming and positioning. Th is division has had personal me that, in their work contexts, “systemic” preferable was empowering. I know for a eff ects for me too – I lost a highly valued meant family therapy approaches from long time I lost belief that there was any teaching partnership with a loyal friend and structural and strategic schools. Th is was other way than the authority imposed by colleague who did not share my enthusiasm bemusing as, in Europe, there had been a/b. A deadening despair can set in when for narrative ideas. a time in the late 1980’s when “systemic” you feel powerless in relation to something In a therapy context where the word was being used to refer to just the Milan imposed on you, especially when you “narrative” or even “narrative therapy” approach. Justifi cation for this was aren’t aware of the nature or extent of that can mean many apparently that the imposition and/or believe there is nowhere things I should Milan approach else to go. be clear that I am The whole is included wider talking about those systems (e.g. Cracks non-structuralist more“ than the sum friends, neighbours The result of all this questioning was that therapeutic ideas etc) and so was cracks were developing in a/b’s previously described by people of the parts more than just unquestioned and imperturbable moral like Michael White, family therapy. authority. I could begin to see that there David Epston, and, in the UK, Martin Whether such” a distinction was merited or were other ways, even if I didn’t know what Payne. Th ese ideas are very diff erent even helpful seemed less important than they were yet. I could begin to object to from the structural and Milan ideas that the realisation that moves were underway a/b, seeing it in the context of an authority I originally trained in and probably have to be able to claim to be “more systemic or ideology that had controlled my life, and most in common with solution-focused or than thou”. Th ings were looking divisive. the lives of others for too long. I began to social constructionist approaches – whilst Using the same word to mean diff erent move from self-blame, seeing myself as the still departing signifi cantly in matt ers of things is not uncommon of course – I cause of all my suff ering, to blaming a/b. theory, practice, ethics and politics. recently came across another defi nition of I began to see a/b in a broader and vastly As a Milan therapist in the 90s, I what a circular question is (I had already

diff erent context, as separate from myself. experienced criticisms of the Milan collected three quite diff erent versions). Is therapy narrative systemic? The cracks were irreversible. I suspected approach for “not caring” or for being Anyway, these colleagues from USA it wouldn’t be easy but the dismantling of “manipulative”, or regarding itself as “more and Australia seemed surprised when I a/b’s prison walls had begun. systemic than thou”. (Of course, these suggested that, surely, “systemic” meant charges are both true and false depending “to do with systems”, i.e. Aristotle’s notion Ring the bells that still can ring on what you mean by them.) that “Th e whole is more than the sum of the Forget your perfect off ering And what was the intention or agenda parts”. As a family therapy (FT) student in There is a crack, a crack in everything behind such allegations? Was it to the 80s this notion of systems led to a pre- That’s how the light gets in. provide thought-provoking critique and occupation with relationships and att ention Leonard Cohen accountability? Or to make territorial claims to context, community and culture. It was about eff ectiveness, acceptability or systemic all about connections. Julie King can be contacted by email via credentials? Or to make moral claims or Diff erent FT approaches have David Epston at [email protected] claims to be more culturally correct? orientations that support their claim to Context October 2009 13 be systemic, and about connections, in neutrality and we are, instead, in the world practices of acknowledgement etc. I am diff erent ways, e.g. Structural approaches of interpretation, meaning-making – and more likely to structure conversations like notions of boundaries, hierarchies, of story, as meaning is commonly made by around sequences of questions directed to and the therapist as conductor. Strategic entering events into stories of our lives. one person at a time; more likely to invite approaches (there are diff erent branches But Michael White was aligning systemic friends, extended family or those who have of strategic of course) like to perturb thinking with certain early systemic experienced similar struggles in life to come, the system so things have to rearrange ideas and practices. More recent systemic and I encourage them sometimes to respond themselves diff erently, Th ey like notions of interests into postmodernism, second directly to questions, sometimes to take symptoms having functions and developed order cybernetics, social constructionism up witnessing positions. I have a diff erent complex conceptualisations of family etc (Hoff man, 1985; Hayward 1996) agenda than I used to have as a structural , process to devise clever interventions. reveal a diff erent kind of systemic thinking and then a Milan therapist. I’m more likely Th e Milan approach was interested in that seems wholly compatible with this to be listening closer to the exact words history, in circular questions, in family other endeavour, that looks at action and and phrases people use and less likely to be rules, and earlier Milan was interested it’s sense rather than behaviour and it’s thinking about neutrality, boundaries or in devilishly complex paradoxical determinants. It’s a broad church, systemic. hypotheses. Th ere’s more than one way of interventions and in constantly widening And no systemic therapists are interested doing systemic family therapy. Th ere always the system under investigation. Post-Milan in all systemic ideas. Milan therapists, for has been. approaches included att ention to second example, aren’t particularly interested in order cybernetics, post-modernism and boundaries, hierarchies and sub-systems. Externalising social constructionism (Hoff man, 1993; Structural therapists aren’t much taken by I invite you, the reader, to engage briefl y Hayward, 1996). Th ese were all ways to paradoxical injunctions, circular questions with one of the narrative practices that has think systemically – oft en diff erent ways, or social constructionism. Narrative extended systemic thinking – externalising but their concern was for the nature of therapists aren’t much interested in (Th is practice refl ects the non-structuralist connections rather than the att ributes or hypothesising or the idea that symptoms critique of internalising that has become so internal workings of individual things. In have functions. popular in the last hundred years, and was common with solution focused therapy, devised by Michael White twenty years they could also be distinguished from Being diff erently systemic back) (White, 1989). Take the exercise psychodynamic approaches in a relative Ignoring one systemic practice in order below to your work group or training clinic lack of interest in structuralism without to properly att end to another doesn’t make and decide for yourself how much it fi ts with actually positioning itself in relation to you less systemic – and being diff erently your systemic focus on relationships and structuralism. systemic is something diff erent family connections. therapists have always done. Narrative Michael White therapy was principally developed by social The person is not the problem Michael White distanced himself workers turned family therapists (Michael – the problem is the problem: from systemic ideas such as ‘symptoms White and David Epston) who continued A short experience in having functions’ or homeostasis (White, some FT traditions (e.g. a rigorous externalising! 1995) preferring to identify his work with approach to questioning as a central A number of narrative practices construct the narrative rather than the systemic therapeutic method, att ention to the family – through focus and language - new metaphor. He described how systemic system) whilst pursuing the potential of the relational areas that lend themselves to (and many other) therapies had largely narrative and story metaphor. systemic enquiry. Externalising is one approached the task of explanation in Narrative therapy’s concentration on example that establishes a relationship therapy by looking for the determinants developing the narrative metaphor has between a person and a problem. Th is of the behaviour. You can see this sort of enabled it to develop several new ideas and doesn’t divorce the person from the problem enquiry in FT ideas about circularities practices – e.g. externalising (White, 1989), (this would be unlikely to fi t with their (which are, essentially, cause and eff ect re-membering (Myerhoff , 1982), scaff olding experience), neither does it construct the connections) and in the notion that distance (White, 2005; Hayward, 2006), problem as being them (e.g. “an anorexic symptoms are functional or purposeful, outsider witness groups (Myerhoff , 1982) girl”, “a dysfunctional family”) or in e.g. to maintain homeostasis. Th ere is an – all highly systemic practices as they focus them (e.g. “He’s got ADHD” “She has an implication that one can see such systems on connections and relationships, context att achment disorder”). from a place of objectivity (fi rst order and community, in ways that previous cybernetics), what White called “a posture systemic approaches had overlooked. Get together with a small group of of spectatorship” (White, 1995), and that Narrative therapy does att end to interested people. Read and discuss the the passage of time does litt le to alter an relationships and family members following points: essential equilibrium. diff erently than Milan, structural or other 1. Th e last few hundred years in Western Michael White preferred Cliff ord Geertz’s family therapies. No longer am I thinking culture has seen problems gett ing notions that proposed an alternative path intensifi cation or enactments between located inside people by referring to Is narrative therapy systemic? towards explanation by looking at the people, no longer dyadic or triadic circular them as, e.g. manipulative, emotionally sense of a person’s actions (Geertz, 1983). questions. Th ese days it’s more about damaged, unreasonable, anorexic , a From such a perspective we cannot claim witnessing positions, re-positioning people, problem child, a dysfunctional family. 14 Context October 2009 Is narrative therapy systemic? therapy narrative Is

Mark Hayward in playful mood

2. Th is refl ects other related ideas (e.g. 3. Siting the problems inside the person – e.g. in relationships with others, with Freudian) that people have internal makes the person’s task one of taking cultures, with institutions or with power selves, characters and a core that reveals action against themselves. (Self- relationships, then a more appropriate the truth of who they really are. Th e harm then becomes one appropriate task is to keep the problem outside the popularity of structuralist thought has response). person. found expression in most therapeutic 4. However, if we view problems as coming 5. Internalising and externalising are approaches. essentially from outside the person both linguistic techniques – neither Context October 2009 15 can demonstrate it is a refl ection of • What does worry want you to believe about abilities gett ing dead-ended – e.g. “using reality. But internalising has achieved other people? confi dence” is preferable to “being such popularity that it can now pass • Are there tricks or tactics that anxiety uses confi dent”. unquestioned and unexamined to try and infl uence you? – along with the eff ects it has and the • In which situations is anxiety most likely to I hope you have fun with this. I responsibility of those who engage in it try and take over? know this simple and non-threatening to be accountable for these eff ects. exercise can be a powerful experiential 6. Without claiming any truth about what a Now ask the group to discuss the introduction to some of the eff ects of problem really is, narrative therapists following questions: internalising and externalising language. seek to make themselves accountable 1. How were you diff erently aff ected by Th is was the place I started at when I to those most aff ected by their work by these two sets of questions? tried to gradually introduce narrative practicing in ways that seem to off er 2. Which of these eff ects fi ts bett er with ideas into my systemic practice. Of most hope and least blame. Experience the eff ects you wish to have on those course, the problem comes when you’ve this diff erence for yourself here. who consult you? asked one externalising question and the 3. What kind of task would it be for a person family respond in some unpredictable Get one of the group to read out, to make the linguistic and discursive way pushing you back on old known and slowly, the following questions. Allow a shifts required from our cultural familiar practices. You’ve probably had thinking gap between each question. norm of internalising to one of a lifetime’s training in structuralist and Th ese questions focus on group externalising? internalising language though so be gentle members’ experience of worry or with yourself – I started off aiming for one anxiety. Substitute e.g. low confi dence/ Some brief tips for externalising: externalising question per session – and nervousness/anger if these are more 1. Turn adjectives into nouns – e.g. “anger” sometimes this was aiming too high… relevant to those in the group (N.B. Not rather than “angry”. (Th e task is all problems should be simply externalised “nounifi cation”!) References – externalising violence or abuse requires a 2. Use gerunds – verbs ending in “-ing” Geertz, C. (1983) Local Knowledge: Further Essays in Interpretive Anthropology. New York: Basic slightly diff erent approach). – e.g. “skin-cutt ing” rather than “skin- Books. cutt er”. Hayward, M. (1996) Is second order practice Internalising questions 3. Prefi x words with “Th e…” to render possible? Journal of Family Therapy. 18, 3. 219-242. Hayward, M. (2000) The narrative metaphor: A • How long have you been so worried? them nouns – e.g. “Th e sadness” rather report of experience. Australia & New Zealand • How did you get to be so anxious? than “your sadness”. Journal of Family Therapy. Vol 21, 3, p 136-138. • Why do you think you’re such a worrier? 4. Personify problems to separate then Hayward, M. (2003) Critiques of narrative therapy: A personal response. Australia & New Zealand • Does being anxious run in your family? further from the person – e.g. “What Journal of Family Therapy. Vol 24, 4, p. 183-189. • How many people know you’re a worrier? is this problem trying to do to you?” Hoff man, L. (1993) Exchanging Voices. London: • What does being so anxious tell you about (Personifi cation is a playful extension to Karnac. Myerhoff , B. (1982) Life history amoung the the kind of person you really are deep down? externalising, att ributing intentions and elderly: Performance, visibility and remembering. agendas to the problem). In Ruby, J. (Ed) A Crack in the Mirror. Refl exive Externalising questions 5. Prefi x problematic descriptions with Perspectives in Anthropology. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. • When did anxiety fi rst try and interfere with their relationship with the person White, M.(1989) The Externalising of the Problem your life? – e.g. “Th is sense/ feeling/sensation and the Re-authoring of Lives and Relationships. • What has happened that might have made of unfairness” rather than “his Dulwich Centre Newsletter. Summer 1988/89. White, M. & Epston, D. (1990) Narrative Means to you vulnerable to the infl uence of worry? unfairness”. Therapeutic Ends. New York: W.W. Norton. • What does worry try to get you to believe 6. Externalise positive things too – this White, M. (1995) Re-authoring Lives: Interviews & about yourself? prevents the social history of skills or Essays. Dulwich Centre Publications

Together with Amanda Redstone, Keith Oulton and Sarah Walther, I teach 5-day intensives at levels 1 & 2 in diff erent UK and Irish venues. Check out www.narrativetraining.co.uk for further information. The family therapy infl uences on me that have contributed to my take-up of narrative ideas certainly include my trainings in Structural, Milan and post-Milan approaches. I’m sure I would have also followed up my interest in solution-focused ideas if I hadn’t come across narrative ideas at a similar time. I reckon that, in narrative practice, you can see links to Minuchin (via his political consciousness and focus) to Cecchin and the other Milan group (via their focus on rigour and thoughtfulness in questions as the main form of enquiry) with post-Milan (via the focus on postmodern and second order cybernetic ideas) and solution focused (via a shared interest in exceptions and a reduced interest in causality and therapist theorising. Is narrative therapy systemic?

16 Context October 2009