Narrative Documentation Practices: Addressing Power Inequalities Through Documentation Practices
Presented by Amy Druker and Jia Yao
10:00 AM to 1:30 PM ET | Convert to your time zone here
Presenters will illustrate examples of documentation practices that call into question dominant ways of thinking about and taking up the task of documenting the interactions we have with the people we consult. Questions such as: What tends to get included in your documentation of an interaction with a person, and what gets left out? How is power used through documentation practices? In what ways are its uses oppressive? Can power be used in a generative way when we’re tasked with documenting an interaction with a person?
During this online workshop narrative letter writing, follow up letters and counter-documents will be covered. Additionally, participants will:
explore their own relationships with documentation practices, and the values, ethics, personal politics that guide their preferred ways of ‘doing documentation’ through an interactive activity.
gain an understanding of the theoretical framework that underpins these counter documentation practices.
hear from a youth consultant about her experience of a collaborative “co-authorship” documentation practice, its effects on the young person, therapist and on the therapeutic alliance.
learn about narrative documentation practices, letter writing, and will be invited to engage in a narrative letter writing exercise.
About the presenters…
Jia Yao (she/her) is a Social Worker and Psychotherapist in Toronto. She currently works as a coordinator in the area of sexual violence support and prevention in the post-secondary education setting, as well as in private practice as a psychotherapist. She strives to engage with people in ways that honour and respect their agency, knowledge, abilities and values. In addition to her front-line practice, she is actively involved in the teaching of Narrative Therapy and mental health through workshops and classes in community and academic spaces. She can be reached at jiayaotherapy@gmail.com.
Amy Druker (she/her) first met Narrative ideas a decade ago when she was working as a harm reduction outreach worker with pregnant people in downtown Toronto. For over 7 years Amy worked as an individual and family therapist at a youth mental health agency, where Narrative Therapy was the first language of all of the practitioners. She now runs her own independent practice, where she offers therapy and non-hierarchical clinical supervision, and clinical consultation at a downtown harm reduction agency. Amy is on Faculty at the Narrative Therapy Initiative (NTI) in Salem, MA. Amy’s practice is guided by a commitment to social justice, anti-oppressive practice, to the questioning of taken-for-granted ways of thinking about things (including the ‘doing’ of therapy and clinical ‘supervision’) and the imposition of expert knowledge. Amy sees Narrative Therapy not as a technique, but as a worldview which helps her to live out her social justice values. To be in touch with Amy please reach out to her at therapy@amydruker.com.
This workshop will be relevant to counsellors, therapists, mental health and community workers in settings such as: hospital, children’s mental health, school, community health, child protection and more.
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
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 additional info box
Cancellations will be accepted if requested in writing at least 14 days prior to the event. A 10% admin 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 of $65 until May 4, 2021 - Regular rate of $80 thereafter