Pluralistic Practice As The Expression of an Ethics of Care

This story is about 24 sessions of trauma informed therapy using a systemic/ narrative lens. This presentation focuses on work done with Ariel.

I share actual session notes along with Ariel’s and my reflections on the work as we were coming to the end of the allocated 24 session In addition, Ariel writes about how having the session notes and working online made her safe Ariel came to therapy due to experiencing CSA. She felt a need to get control of her life as it seemed to be getting more and more difficult.

Due to lockdown, we never actually met face to face and all sessions were conducted via video calls. We worked in a collaborative way, which included sharing sessions notes and writing reflections. In the presentation I share some of these notes and reflections. These show how and at what session Ariel took steps to take control of her life and move away from the effects of traumatic experiences. Ariel’s voice and reflections are a critical part of this presentation, she shares how working in this way allowed her to speak up and change her view of self.

Since completing therapy Ariel has expanded her support team to include people not just cats. She has been co-author of two articles in therapy journals (to be published in May & August 2023) I hope this presentation will help clinicians to be curious about Narrative Therapy, writing session notes in a specific way that notices agency and offering to give clients session notes.