No abstract

The present paper attempts to provide preliminary support for the use of narrative exposure therapy (NET) in a child protection context. The prevalence of violence, abuse and neglect (VAN) within New South Wales is outlined as well as the current perspectives in trauma definition and symptomology, and the prevalence of trauma symptomology among birthparents and young people within child protection services. NET is introduced including its theoretical background, methodology, applications and research. Four applications of NET within a child protection context are presented, including lifelines and narrative excerpts. Specific themes presented included experiences of physical abuse, domestic and family violence, parental drug use, suicidal ideation and child removal. Statistical analysis including reliable change, clinical and statistical significance of pre‐ and post‐PCL‐5 outcomes measures are presented to infer preliminary support for NET within a child protection context. Limitations and future considerations for future research are discussed.

This paper reports a tabletop role-playing campaign developed in a child protection counselling context. The campaign was written by 12-year-old “Oliver” (a pseudonym) in collaboration with his counsellor and then played through with members of his family. The paper provides the background to the study, incorporating the theoretical context, tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), narrative play therapy, and the position of the counsellor as both a co-creator and dungeon master. It outlines the collaborative process of creating a TTRPG campaign, and then as the primary intention, presents a faithful retelling of the campaign undertaken. The paper further provides clinical reflection on symbolism evident in TTRPGs and the campaign presented. Finally, it presents therapeutic outcomes to highlight the impact of this intervention and support the role of TTRPGs in a therapeutic context. The campaign investigates themes of displacement from home, siblings working together to overcome obstacles, exploring dungeons, overthrowing evil scientists, retrieving lost possessions, and, ultimately, returning home.

This case study presents the worldview of Kayden, a 23-year-old Welsh Caucasian father whose child was permanently removed from his care through court-ordered adoption. The process adopted a phenomenological-narrative inquiry to therapeutically describe Kayden's worldview. The therapeutic narrative practices of personal dialectics, re-authoring and statement of position maps were used within this inquiry to provide incremental scaffolding towards double-storied development. Kayden's outcome measures are included to reflect some of the beneficial aspects of this process. Limitations of the article and future considerations are also discussed.

This theoretical paper begins by briefly exploring the structuralist and romantic ideas underpinning the modern concept of identity. The paper then attempts to shift away from this influence of modernity towards a post-modern view of identity through social constructionism. The paper continues by examining the role discourses and narratives play in the construction of identity through the use of the metaphor of interweaving threads and patchworks. The construction of identity is then further examined through positioning theory; identification, ideologies, and power. Finally, the influence of language on the construction of identity is addressed with specific reference to Jacques Derrida’s concepts of différance and deconstruction as well as their adaptation to therapeutic practices. The paper concludes that identity can be conceptualised as a metaphor of threads and patchworks that are relational and contextually dependent, and that it is through the use of discourses and narratives that identity is constructed.