Narrative Therapy and Peacebuilding

Abstract

Dealing with trauma and loss in a post-conflict environment demands nuanced responses that take into account individual-level healing work and avoid standardized, statist, institutionalized solutions which tend to prioritize national unity by subordinating disparate individual memories. This article explores how narrative therapy advances the use of local initiatives, skills and values, challenges notions of therapeutic governance and generates possibilities of experiencing an increased sense of agency. Further, it introduces a range of collective narrative methodologies that open up the space for diverse meanings and alternative stories that can contribute to peacebuilding and recovery from the effects of trauma.

Keywords:

• narrative therapy
• peacebuilding
• trauma
• alternative stories

Notes

1  Narrative Therapy Centre website, http://www.narrativetherapycentre.com/index_files/Collective_Narrative_Practice.htm.