the Dulwich Centre website	... a gateway to narrative therapy, community work and psychosocial support                                              Dulwich Centre Publications Pty Ltd
www.dulwichcentre.com.au

Introduction
by David Denborough

Dear reader,

As I hold the manuscript of this book in my hand I am reminded of all the conversations that are recorded within it. These conversations have taken place in people’s homes, in rooms of conference venues, in the foyers of hotels, and in various cafes in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, the USA and the UK. For short periods of time, influential practitioners have invited me, and now you the reader, into their worldview and the history that has shaped it. In some circumstances they have offered reflections and regrets about aspects of past practices, and they have spoken of what continues to inspire them.

It is my hope that for those of my generation, for whom the origins of family therapy took place well before our birth, this book can act as an introduction to the people and events that have led us to the present day. I hope that this book enables you to not only engage with the diversity of ideas of the field but also to get to know, in some small way, those whose stories are contained in these pages.

I particularly hope that you find this a friendly and accessible book, for these are the words I would use to describe the interviews that are recorded here. It can be difficult to convey on paper the warmth of someone’s smile, the twinkle of their eye, or the kindness that has characterised a conversation. So let me just say here, that every interview contained in this book was offered in a spirit of kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity.

The degree of openness shown by those who were interviewed has seemed especially significant, as has the respect demonstrated to each other. Those interviewed represent significantly different philosophies and practices to one another, and most feel that it is important that these differences be articulated and understood. And yet, in every conversation, it was the ideas that were being discussed and engaged with. Time and again it was made clear that despite the significant differences, all those interviewed are in some way linked to each other through the history of the field and respect for each other’s contributions.

The field of family therapy, like everything else, has been significantly shaped by its times. When the field first began, in North America in the late 1950s, the ideas of what constituted a family were very different than they are today. The second wave of feminism, gay liberation, sexual liberation, changing attitudes to children, and social movements aimed at addressing indigenous rights, racism and other issues of culture, continue to significantly shape and re-shape the field of family therapy as they do all aspects of life.

The field of family therapy is constantly changing and now is no exception. For therapists of my generation, the current changes represent ongoing creativity and excitement. And yet, as we continue to explore new directions, it will be imperative that we have our history close by. I hope that this book contributes in some small way to ensuring that this is possible.

There are many further interviews that ideally would have included here, and perhaps somewhere down the track compiling these will be possible. But for now, I hope you enjoy the following interviews which I had the pleasure of editing. I think you’ll agree that they make intriguing reading.

Acknowledgments

Although I conducted and edited the interviews that are contained here, this publication was a collaborative endeavour. The idea for this book came from Cheryl White and Dulwich Centre Publications provided the resources and support to make it possible. The reason why I was welcomed by so many people wherever I went was due to long histories of friendship and professional relationship that were generously opened up by Cheryl White and Michael White. I’d also like to acknowledge the editorial assistance of Sky Laris, and the lay-out work of Jane Hales.

There are two further acknowledgements that I feel are important to make. Firstly, to all those interviewed for this book – not only for their generosity in relation to these particular conversations, but also for the years that they have dedicated to trying to find ways of working with families that will make a difference. And finally, a more general acknowledgement – to all those practitioners for whom this book has been written. I work as I writer, one step back from those of you who are working with individuals and families every day. I admire the work that you do and I hope this book provides you sustenance and some sense of company.
 

Back