July 13-15, 2026: Narrative Therapy Approaches to Mental Health Problems
July 13-15, 2026: Narrative Therapy Approaches to Mental Health Problems
Event Time
9:30 am
Event Location
Family Service Toronto, 355 Church Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 0B2, Canada
Event Description
Co-facilitated by David Newman & Angel Yuen
9:30 AM to 4:30 PM EDT - daily
This is a 3-day in-person event to be held at:
Family Service Toronto
355 Church Street, Toronto
M5B 0B2
First early rate: $480 until April 10, 2026
Early rate: $540 until June 13 , 2026
Regular rate: $580 after June 13, 2026
Are you looking for hopeful, effective and respectful ways of working with those struggling with mental health problems? Have you been concerned about the effects of isolation for the people you are working alongside that are experiencing mental health problems? Have you wondered what Narrative Therapy might look like in a mental health setting or when working with those suffering from mental health problems? Then this workshop will offer clarity and inspiration for you.
In many ways narrative practices were shaped out of responding to mental health suffering. This workshop will cover how some of those ideas have been utilised and elaborated by David Newman and Angel Yuen in their work with individuals, families and groups experiencing mental health difficulties.
Topics will include responding to suicidal experience, moving from stories of depression to stories of preferred identity, getting the upper hand over anxiety and more.
This training will include:
- a brief overview of the ideas that shape narrative therapy
- ways to help people make sense of mental health distress rather than locate what is wrong with them
- how to find ways to usefully and sensitively link lives of those who experience mental health problems
Over three days together we will learn:
- how to use the Narrative Therapy practices of externalising and re-authoring creatively with mental health problems
- ways to uncover and document the skills and knowledges of people with mental health problems
- creative group work practices
- how to use the Narrative Therapy idea of the absent but implicit to make sense of suffering
This training has been designed for those familiar with narrative ideas and who are seeking hopeful and effective ways to respond to mental health difficulties. It will also be suited to anyone newer to and already interested in the ideas and practices of narrative therapy. It will include a combination of lectures, discussions, the presentation of narrative therapeutic work, a chance to explore the ideas through structured exercises and “live” demonstrations. There will be an emphasis on skills you can take away and immediately use in your work.
About the facilitators
David Newman (he/him)
David Newman lives and works on Gadigal country, Sydney, Australia. He is a faculty member of The Dulwich Centre and an honorary clinical fellow at University of Melbourne School of Social Work. He has extensive experience teaching in Australia and other countries and in individual, couple, family and group therapy, primarily through his independent therapy practice Sydney Narrative Therapy. You can find out more about his work and publications by visiting the following links.
Angel Yuen (she/her)
Angel works as a narrative therapist in alternative private practice in Durham region of the Greater Toronto Area using narrative approaches with individuals, families, children and young people. She also offers narrative supervision and consultation. Part of her previous work for over 20 years was at the Toronto District School Board as a school social worker. 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 has facilitated several narrative workshops locally and in different countries and within these spaces she continually is honoured to share hopeful stories, skills and wisdom of the people who consult with her. Angel is the author of the 2019 book titled’ Pathways beyond despair: Re-authoring lives of young people through narrative therapy. She also is co-editor with Cheryl White of the 2007 book Conversations about gender, culture, violence and narrative practice: Stories of hope and complexity from women of many cultures.
If you are new to the ideas and practices of Narrative Therapy we suggest reading What is Narrative Therapy? (2000) by Alice Morgan.
Certificates of Training will be available on Day 3 at the end of the workshop and will state 18 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. A cancellation fee of $75 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.