Furthering Talk: Advances in the Discursive Therapies

Recently, a client coming in for her second appointment, told me the story ofhow she had been volunteeringher timeforthe pastseveralyearstofreeseveralinnocent prisoners from Illinois prisons. She told me how tenaciously and persistently she had to work against politicians who did not want these releases to take place. I wasso struck by her dedication and personal sacrificeoftime, money,and energy. At the end of her story, I thanked her. I said there were many times when I heard some story of injustice on the news and I thought to myself how I should get involved or at least write a letter. But somehow other matters would take precedence, my anger would dissipate and soon the issue would slip my mind. Listening to her I feltgrateful that there were people like her to take up the cause and put energy and voice to my concerns. I looked at her and thanked her again. Reading this manuscript I was reminded of this story. Editing a book on postmodern thinking and ways of being with clients is certainly not the same as confronting politicians or taking on power structures in a justice system. But nonetheless, after reading this manuscript I found myselfgrateful to Tom Strong and David Pare for their taking the time and committing the energy to the col­ lection. This is a book that should have been written. It is timely and moves ideas forward. This is a very worthwhile endeavor and the product reflects their dedication to contemporary ideas.

About the Author

Thomas Strong, Ph.D. is a psychologist and counselor educator at the University of Calgary. Formerly a practitioner throughout northwestern British Columbia, he recently re-entered academic life to explore the possibilities of discursive and postmodern thought for collaborative practice. Inspired by dialogica thinkers like Bakhtin, Garfinkel and Wittgenstein, his writing explores pragmatic and ethical issues such thought holds for psychotherapy, health conversations, and counselor education/supervision. Strong is also involved. In the Discursive Therapies ("The Virtual Faculty") graduate program offered online from Massey University in New Zealand. David Paré, Ph.D. is a psychologist and counselor educator at the University of Ottawa as well as co-director (with Mishka Lysack) of the Glebe Institute, A Centre for Constructive and Collaborative Practice, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. For the past decade his work has focused on the ‘postmodern turn’ in family therapy and psychotherapy. David has a particular interest in narrative ideas and practices; in addition to writing and presenting widely on that topic, he offers training and supervision to practitioners interested in developing collaborative therapeutic practices. He is currently conducting participatory action research with students into the process of teaching and learning collaborative therapy.