Main description:

The Handbook of Therapeutic Storytelling enables people in the healing professions to utilise storytelling, pictures and metaphors as interventions to help their patients.

Communicating in parallel worlds and using simple images and solutions can help to generate positive attitudes, which can then be nurtured and enhanced to great effect. Following an "Introduction" to the therapeutic use of stories, which closes with helpful "Instructions for use", the book is divided into two parts, both of which contain a series of easily accessible chapters. Part One includes stories with specific therapeutic applications linked to symptoms and situations. Part Two explains and investigates methods and offers a wide range of tools; these include trance inductions, adaptation hints, reframing, the use of metaphor and intervention techniques, how stories can be structured, and how to invent your own. The book also contains a detailed reference section with cross-referenced key words to help you find the story or tool that you need.

With clear guidance on how stories can be applied to encourage positive change in people, groups and organisations, the Handbook of Therapeutic Storytelling is an essential resource for psychotherapists and other professions of health and social care in a range of different settings, as well as coaches, supervisors and management professionals.

Contents:

INTRODUCTION

The potential of stories
PART ONE: THE STORIES

Promoting understanding

Promoting health

Promoting wellbeing

Promoting successful relationships

Promoting development
PART TWO: THE METHODS

Identifying therapeutic stories

Developing therapeutic stories through dialogue

Inventing therapeutic stories

Telling therapeutic stories

Experiencing therapeutic stories without words

Appendix

Literature

Index