Extending your Narrative Practice with explorations of the Absent but Implicit-Oct 20 2025
Extending your Narrative Practice with explorations of the Absent but Implicit-Oct 20 2025
Event Date
October 20, 2025
Event Time
1:00 pm
Event Location
This is an ONLINE EVENT, Hosted on Zoom, Eastern Time CANADA US
Event Description
This workshop will be suited to those practitioners who have familiarity with narrative ideas and would like to extend their knowledge and skills of narrative therapy.
Early rate $110 until September 20, 2025
Regular rate $140 thereafter
Have you ever watched a videotape of Michael’s mesmerized, like I have, and all of a sudden realized that the conversation had passed over some sort of bridge between despair and renewed hope and you wondered if you had lost consciousness for a split second because you hadn’t noticed that happening? Has the coin of the explicit ‘heads’ been turned over to reveal the ‘implicit’ tails so quickly that, like me, you swear it was some sort of magic?
– David Epston (2009) writing about Michael White’s work with the Absent But Implicit
The notion of the absent but implicit, once we integrate it into our practice, is a gateway into that realm of experience where people’s most cherished hopes, aspirations, and commitments live and breathe.
(Freedman 2012)
About this workshop
When having conversations with people consulting with us we can be on the lookout for what is absent but implicit in the person’s expressions. For example – the expression might be: complaints, laments, concerns, frustrations, distress, rage, despair, bewilderment, disbelief etc. But when we discover what the expression is in relation to we find that often what is absent but implicit are the values that have been violated or trodden on.
In this workshop, we will learn about explorations of the absent but implicit. Stories will be shared of how the practice of the absent but implicit can help practitioners to respond to distress and hopelessness by doubly listening – i.e. listening to not only the story of upset but also to stories of what the person holds precious, their cherished hopes and commitments.
During this workshop you will:
– learn about how every expression in life is in relation to something else and that every expression is multi-layered
– practice double-listening
– hear stories of how explorations of the absent but implicit can address effects of racism and homophobia
– engage in a skills development exercise
– view a video illustrating a narrative therapy conversation about the absent but implicit
After this workshop:
We hope you will feel better equipped (versus uncertain, fearful or immobilized) to respond to people experiencing high distress, rage, or hopelessness and more. Also we hope that the ideas from this workshop will assist you in your everyday practice as soon as you return to your work context.
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Cited:
Epston, D., 2009: Saying hullo again: Remembering Michael White. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 30(2), pp. 71-80.
Freedman, J. 2012: Explorations of the absent but implicit. International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work, (4), pp. 01-10
About Angel Yuen (she/her)
Angel works as a narrative therapist and clinical supervisor in alternative-private practice in Durham region of the Greater Toronto Area. She also offers tailored narrative trainings and consultation to many organizations. Angel’s previous work spanning three decades included experiences in school, community, and adult and children’s mental health settings.
Angel has facilitated several narrative workshops locally, internationally and more recently virtually. Within these spaces she continually is honoured to share hopeful stories, skills and wisdom of the people who consult with her. As a member of the Dulwich Centre international faculty in Adelaide, Australia Angel is part of their team for the Master of Narrative Therapy and Community Work program. Angel is the author of the 2019 book titled’ Pathways beyond despair: Re-authoring lives of young people through narrative therapy.
Certificates of Training can be requested at the end of the online workshop and will state 3 hours of narrative therapy training. Certificates can be used to qualify for eligibility for continuing education credits from professional colleges and licensing boards. Please contact your own college or association to confirm requirements.
STUDENTS – At checkout in ‘discount code’ enter STUDENT10. Also in the ‘additional info’ box please include your student info – i.e.: Name of institution and program of study
For groups of 3 or more, please register together in one transaction and at checkout in ‘discount code’ enter GROUP10. One main person can be registrant, and please type info (name, email, address) for other group members in the ‘additional info’ box
Cancellations will be accepted if requested at least 14 days prior to the event via email to contact@narrativetherapycentre.com. $20 cancellation fee will be deducted from the amount to be refunded.
We regret that a refund cannot be offered after the cancellation date, but a colleague may be substituted for attendance.
Early rate $110 until September 20, 2025
Regular rate $140 thereafter