A Feild Guide to Narrative Therapy

 

This Book Is For…

The Long Time Therapist who has hit a wall and is seeking to learn a new way of doing therapy.

The Student of Therapy who wants to learn the art of being therapist.

The Burned Out Practitioner who is feeling like they have to leave the field of therapy because their practice is personally unsustainable.

The Narrative Therapist who is wanting their practices to become clearer and commit more to exploring the path of what it means to practice narrative therapy.

Anyone Who is Dissatisfied with the modern mental health system in North America and is seeking another way forward.

Buy A Field Guide to Narrative Therapy

You can see these Reviews on Amazon Right Now.

Gerilyn Hubbe
5.0 out of 5 stars Click. CLick. cliCk. mmHmmm… **EXACTLY**
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2024
(The sound of existential breakthroughs in succession via Eric’s highly relatable vivid humorous heartfelt writing). I’ve been mesmerized by Narrative Therapy since I was first introduced 5 years ago. Over that time I’ve taken several graduate-level courses and filled a large shelf of books dedicated to the Narrative Practices. If I could only recommend one book, for the curious beginner or the experienced practitioner wanting to deepen and ground their work in the relatable grit of ordinary human stories, it would be this one.

Herbnerd
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Stuff
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2024
Verified Purchase
Really great and practical review of Narrative Therapy. In some ways this style can be considered iconoclastic, but the author brings abstract ideas to life while exploring practical applications.

The Rev
5.0 out of 5 stars At Last!
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is the rare offering the field of counsel has been missing! Eric Wolf brings a tender, real element of priceless humanity in the perspective of an authentic being having a fully unique narrative that needs to be heard. Rather than the clinical rabbit hole we are numb with, it provides insight to opening a bright new horizon of possibility if we can just take measure of a souls journey with this clearly defined outline of practices that are full of compassion and light. If you are a professional counselor enhance your vocation with this useful guidebook!

Learn to Lie like a Pro with the Host of the Art of Storytelling Show.

Eric Wolf, the host of the Art of Storytelling with Brother Wolf Show, is available to be interviewed on or before April 1st, 2010 on how to lie successfully for April Fools' Day.  In 2009 he was interviewed on Fox 45 local News in Dayton, Ohio.  Eric Wolf was a Master of Ceremonies’ at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C 2009 Folk Life Festival.

In his interview he will discuss the advantages of lying and how liars have solid, political, social and psychological reasons for doing so.  He will defend an America tradition that dates back to the founding of America back to Mark Twain, why, even back to the Pilgrims.  He will also demonstrate the art of tall tales and flat lies for the viewing audience.

A successful tale tall or lie uses five storytelling techniques.

1) The lie needs a basis in truth.

2) The story needs to have a spectacular departure from reality.

3) The teller must have a personal body language that supports the lie.

4) The story should contain at least one small, reasonable detail that rings true to the listener.

5) The teller must have a willingness to defend the lie as truth. 

The Art of Storytelling with Brother Wolf Show

The Art of Storytelling Show has had over 127, 000 downloads since it began podcasting in 2007.  Created by Brother Wolf (Eric Wolf) in the spring of 2007, the show brings the best and brightest of the storytelling community to the world stage.  43% of listeners are from outside the United States from over 100 different countries.

The Art of Storytelling Show is the world’s sole interview- format show dedicated to exploring the art and science of storytelling in all its forms. With over a hundred interviews available for listening to online at http://www.artofstorytellingshow.com, this podcast has become the premier resource for understanding and practicing the art of storytelling worldwide.

For more information:

Eric James Wolf

Host of the Art of Storytelling with Brother Wolf Show

http://www.artofstorytellingshow.com

(937) 767-8696

Art, Storytelling and Dyslexia

The writer is Eric Wolf Storyteller

Art is not limited by state budgets, the few hours of life apportioned or others acceptance.  The only limitation of art is our desire to embrace art as we know it and to love that expression that calls us into our passion - into our being - into the voice of God.  Of all the arts, storytelling is the most able to thrive despite budgets cuts, institutional ignorance and community apathy.  Storytelling brings people together and serves as a beacon for community healing.

To be an artists is to give yourself over to a creative process that promise no fruit with each effort.  But instead enlightens our lives with a gift that can only be declared - soul.  Art in it's purist form is God's hand in our mortal lives.  A living testament that their is more to our lives then this simple physical frame.  To be an artist is to see the world, not only as it is - but as it can be or will be by our will.

Art makes meaning where there is none, gives power to the powerless, heals wounds long scarred, and above all hold love triumphant for the entire world to see.  Successful art brings people together through compassion, forgiveness and understanding.  Art and storytelling is held and holds community in it's sacred trust.  Art binds the sinews of the mortal world into a tapestry that ancestors hold in their immortal coil.

When we examine what it means to be dyslexic in a modern society we find ourselves looking at an entire class of creative types who are artists by definition.  Though their creative efforts may be far from what society defines as “art”.  They as a group fall in the range of artist by their very necessity of invention. Their inability to fit with the bounds of normality causes them to rush into the worlds of creativity that others will never experience.  Not to say that to be dyslexic is to be born a painter, actor, poet or artist.  Far from that.   Dyslexics make the best storytellers by the requirements of the world bent down upon them.

Storytelling is the refuge of sinners and survivors.  Storytelling is an art long associated with lying and dishonesty.  Oral Narrative is held in disrepute for the same reasons it is so widely successful.  The ease at which storytelling can be adapted and used to support the powerless and the oppressed is the same ease that allows sinners and con artists to bends it to their will.

Now Back to Storytelling for children and adults...

Years ago I started my fairy tale line Fairytales Forever as Fairy tales for Single Parents.  These stories a rose out of my work with inner city children in New York City.  Many of whom are growing up in single parent household.  This seven CD set touches on issues of interest to modern children through recasting the fairytales of old.  I am planning on finishing this set next spring.  You can read more about the Fairy Tales forever series at http://www.fairytalesforever.com/

Sean Buvala is working the other end of this market brilliantly with his new e-book Daddy Teller.  Which you can read all about at http://daddyteller.com/.  What I really like about Sean's work - with out having read it  - is that he is empowering fathers everywhere to use storytelling role model there children.  How else could you get the most bang for your very limited time with your children?

You could take my free e-course on Zen and the Art of storytelling in Seven Simple Steps, but that would still leave gaping holes in your knowledge of how to use storytelling with children as a dad. (or a mom) The fact is that knowing how to perform and knowing how to be present with your children are vastly different skill sets.  

The Top 10 Storytelling Blogs of 2009

I rarely write articles for this bog – but I started thinking about it and I thought as way of thanks I would write a short article giving thanks to all those bloggers who have been so supportive of my podcast over the years. Keeping in mind that many of these people have become my friends, I apologize to any worthy storytelling blogger who feels excluded form this list.

1. http://www.artofstorytellingshow.com/

If you reading this post – I’m sure you are reading this post on my blog so I’m sure I don’t need to convince you of the value of this blog on the web. I have tried to bring to this podcast every storyteller of every merit in the international storytelling movement. I only have a few hundred to go – so please spread the word as to the value of this resource.

2. http://storytelling.blogspot.com/

Tim Ernetta has a fabulous blog called “Breaking the Eggs: Performance storytelling in the 21st Century”. Tim planned years in advance for this blog by reserving the word storytelling in the blogspot universe – thank goodness he had the foresight. Instead of another dry examination of movies, theater or television, we get this entertaining look at American storytelling. He has one of the most refreshing views of what it means to be a modern storyteller. His examination of the boundaries of storytelling and his willingness to leave no stone unturned in his examination of what it means to be a storyteller, professional or other wise, makes this blog required reading for anyone who is serious about storytelling in the United States.

3. http://professionalstoryteller.ning.com/profiles/blog/list

A Ning is a new word like Google, Ebay or Facebook – Nings are dedicated online communities with a common philosophical focus. The professional storytelling Ning founded by Dianne de Las Casus includes not just one blog, but hundreds of storytellers blogs all combined into one overwhelming RSS feed. Give yourself the gift of examining what it means to take your storytelling to the next professional level.

4. http://2008pics.blogspot.com/

K. Sean Buvala has a courageous picture blog of his own professional storytelling career recorded over the period of a year with hundreds of pictures. Honest and raw, it is a must read for any inspiring performer who wishes or dreams of making a living from their art form. He has several other online storytelling projects and each is worthy of its own place of honor – so be sure to explore the links on this blog page to find out more about what he has created online.

5. http://lisb.wordpress.com/

Limor’s Storytelling Agora is a valuable addition to the international view of storytelling in the 21sot century. Sometimes Limor just speaks about her basic experience as a storyteller – like many other storytelling blogs. Then suddenly she will launch into an examination of storytelling itself, why we do it, how we do it or just what it means to be a storyteller in the 21st century.

6. http://storytellingnotes.blogspot.com/

This is Priscilla Howe’s professional storytelling blog. She is one of the busiest storytellers that I know and you can pick up a lot of tricks of the trade if you pay attention to the space between the words in her blog. She is a professional and her blog demonstrates it with over a thousand professional gigs on her resume. This is a blog to follow for other professional storytellers.

7. http://www.storytellingadventures.blogspot.com/

Rachel Hedman’s blog, Storytelling Adventures, has been a long term project for her. She posts on a regular basis on the storytelling art form, issues relating to performing in various venues and the development of various gigs. Rachel currently has been developing a new project online, so be sure to check that out through the links. I am sure it will be just as in depth, interesting, detailed and good for the soul as this blog.

8. http://storyconnection.net/blog/

Dianne de Las Casus has a professional blogging presence – she writes books and a regular lengthy newsletter, maintains a healthy performance schedule and answers all emails. I don’t know how she does it all. Actually I do – because she talks about it at length on her blog.

9. http://www.dyslexicstoryteller.blogspot.com/

My personal blog – where I reach out to parents of dyslexic children - not really a storytelling blog – but a great example of how to create content for a specific audience to whom you wish to tell stories. If you are a regular follower of this blog, you will understand my passionate interest in the way Americans view school and learning disabilities.

10. http://www.uncalledfortour.blogspot.com/

Although this does not appear to be a permanent addition to the storytelling blogsphere, it looks to be of such originality and vision that I had to slip it into this lineup of storytelling blogs. These three tellers are reaching for the sky while mere mortals seek the old places of last resort.

This is a repeat of a post - blogged at http://www.artofstorytellingshow.com//2009/03/05/the-top-10-storytelling-blogs-of-2009/

PRESS RELEASE: Speaking out in Defense of Scary Stories on the Art of Storytelling with Brother Wolf Show

Saturday, October 25, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Eric James Wolf
Phone: (937) 767-869

Speaking out in Defense of Scary Stories on the Art of Storytelling with Brother Wolf Show

Eric James Wolf, professional storyteller and host of the Art of Storytelling with Brother Wolf Show, is available for print, radio and television interviews to defend the use of the scary Halloween stories in the oral tradition with children.

Scary Halloween stories and ghost stories for children have taken the place of ritual trials of adulthood for teenagers, according to Mr. Wolf. They also serve as a means for adults to warn children away from dangerous places or behavior. Ghost stories and scary Halloween stories in the oral tradition can be age appropriate and satisfying for families. Currently on his the Art of Storytelling shows website he has five interviews available for easy download about the art of telling scary Halloween stories.

Eric Wolf does not condone or support horror or the graphic use of violence. “It is possible, however, by carefully working within the confines of scary Halloween stories and ghost stories for children, to leave our audience psychologically stronger and more emotionally capable of dealing with their fears or the shock of real world disasters,” Mr. Wolf says.

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Storyteller Eric James Wolf has performed nationally at such venues as the American Museum of Natural History; Bank Street School for Children; Barnard College; Blue Theater - Toronto, Canada; Columbia University; The Fund for the City of New York; Kings Island Amusement Park; New York City Clearwater Festival; New Jersey Liberty Science Center; and The International Performing Artists for Youth.

He is the host and producer of the Art of Storytelling with Brother Wolf, a one hour interview format show. Mr. Wolf has M.S. in Education from Lesley University.

Eric Wolf’s Website
http://www.ericwolf.org

The Art of Storytelling with Brother Wolf Show
http://www.artofstorytellingshow.com/

A list of five episodes on the Art of Storytelling with Children with storytellers speaking on how to use scary storytelling with kids.
http://www.artofstorytellingshow.com/category/scary-storytelling/


To schedule an interview, call…
(937) 767-8696

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7 reasons to Join the Art of Storytelling with Children NING!

In reverse order like a letterman top ten list... http://storytellingwithchildren.ning.com

Drum roll please....

7) You love Eric's podcast and want to make him feel accomplished for the hundreds of hours of work he has invested into the Art of Storytelling with Children Podcast.
6) You never heard of Eric or his podcast and feel sorry for him spending hundreds of hours on his podcast.
5) You love children (not in a weird way) and love to write and share about storytelling with children..
4) You want one more website with a decent google page rank to list your storyteller website and increase your visability on google.
3) You love to tell stories to children on the amateur level and want to belong to a storytelling networking community - and the professional storyteller NING is a little intimidating.
2) You recently had bad accident and are trapped in a full body cast unable to escape from your hospital bed except through the internet.
1) Your a social networking addict

Seriously though consider joining now because you love telling stories with children...
http://storytellingwithchildren.ning.com

Incase you missed it Eric Wolf's Website
and Eric wolf's Storytelling Podcast

Why storytelling?

Recently Katharine Hansen, PhD asked me two questions about storytelling for here to include on her blog. Never being one to write much – I thought I would use the answers on my blog….

1. What inspired you to "cross over" and explore the applied side of storytelling, e.g., your interview with Denning?

All oral storytelling is by definition applied… stories and storytelling with out context and culture to hang it on - is television. Television can’t be confused with the oral tradition. Storytelling requires at least two participants a listener and a speaker to have a face to face interaction. In a storytelling the listener is participating in the co-creation of the story by the active use of their imagination and their response - physically, mentally and spiritually to the story.

Oral storytelling is the nuts and bolts of the sales process. Media and sales people who ignore this skill set do so at their own peril. Whether for world peace or pure entertainment, we are going to need to make the case that storytelling is useful in all forms of human relationship. To make that case we most demonstrate empirically that storytelling is entertaining, useful and applicable to the real world.

In the modern media culture many artists consider themselves storytellers – they are making an error in describing themselves in this way. Storytelling is the application of the story to the open canvas of the human mind while changing the colors to better suit the particular conditions and needs of that day.

Oral storytelling in it’s highest from is a breath from the divine and a service to all of creation. Any art form that leaves no room for the imagination in the minds of the audience is not storytelling – but something far more insidious. We leave an oral storytelling event with the feeling that the world is bigger then we can dare to imagine.

To listen to the Steven Denning interview…
http://www.artofstorytellingshow.com/2008/01/12/steve-denning-the-knowledge-based-organization/

2. You blog about your struggle with dyslexia. Briefly, how has this struggle affected your development as a storyteller?

I have a mind that does not work. Poor me – I’m over it – I have learned – no I was forced to compensate by the very nature of the structure of my mind. I could not read, I could not write – all I had as a child was the words in my mouth and the space between my ears. But in the end I don’t believe that dyslexic people are better speakers then non-dyslexic people – Dyslexic people are forced to learn to great lessons early in life that are a great advantage as we grow older.

1) You can’t do it all. You’re going to need help.
2) Your mind is a great device for creativity – not a good place to store things.

This blog post is written by dyslexic person about his experience being dyslexic and has been intentionally left uncorrected except for a Microsoft word spell check.

Creative commons 3.0 non-derivative license please include the following links.
http://www.artofstorytellingshow.com/
http://www.ericwolf.org
http://dyslexicstoryteller.blogspot.com/

Teaching Storytelling

The best way I have found of getting children to tell stories is by creating a daily place of respect for storytelling and modeling good listening to the young storytellers. Build on the daily culture of your classroom, home, camp or daycare to include a sharing of the children’s and your stories. Young people learn best through modeling of the behavior you wish them to learn. If you wish to be surrounded by storytellers who are authentic, exciting and respectful of other tellers then all you have to do is to consistently model those storytelling standards.

Simple, but true...

Way of Teaching Storytelling

Winter and Spring of 2008 Schedule of Guests

For Immediate Release Press Release
Friday, November 30, 2007

Contact: Eric James Wolf
Phone: 937-767-8696

The Art of Storytelling With Children Podcast and Blog enters it’s second year.
This Podcast is a national conversation from all perspectives on the profession of “storytelling with children” recorded as a conference call on Tuesdays at 8:00pm.

We serve all members of the “storytelling with children” portion of the storytelling movement including presenters, listeners, administrators, educators, parents, and storytellers.

If you're not already on the email alert list, you must sign in by the Friday before the call to get the email that will give you the telephone number and access code.

If you wish to listen to the podcast, you can subscribe via iTunes or just listen on the website. Our listener base is still growing so spread the word about this great no-cost on-line program.

To join the list, go to http://www.artofstorytellingshow.com and add your name to the community email list.

Sincerely Yours


Eric Wolf
A.K.A. Brother Wolf to thousands of children world-wide.




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Upcoming Schedule of Guests.

December 4th – No Conference Call - Yellow Springs Tail Spinners, Developing your storytelling abilities with a group.

December 11th - 8PM EST – Margeret Read Macdonald,
Telling across language barriers.

December 18th - 8PM EST – Michael Caduto, Stories about giving and receiving.

No show December 25th Vacation.

January 1st - 8PM EST- Bobby Norfolk, The brain is hardwired for stories.

January 8th - 8PM EST– Daisy Howard-Douglas,
Herstory - tell the truth, it will set you free.

January 15th - 8PM EST- Steve Denning,
Secret Language of leadership implications for education.

January 22nd - 8PM EST- Priscilla Howe, Creating a successful storytelling practice.

January 29th - Tuesday at 9 pm EST - Alex Feldman,
Connecting Quickly (and Managing Behavior) through Physicality.

February 5th – 8PM EST- Joyce Slayter, Telling to teenagers with newborns.

February 12th - 8PM EST- Dianne de Las Casus, Storytelling a safari into literacy?

February 19th - 8PM EST- Syd Lieberman, Telling your Family’s Stories.

February 26th - 8PM EST - Joseph Bruchac. The Truth of Native Stories.

March 4th - 8PM EST- Mark Morey, Storytelling as a Mentor

March 11th – 8PM EST- Dianne Williamson,
Literacy Development - Storytelling in the classroom.


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March 18th - 8PM EST- David Epley, Comedy and Storytelling.

March 25th - 8PM EST- Jackie Baldwin - Kate Dudding,
Storytelling in Schools a reference guide to educational programs.

April 1st - 8PM EST- Sally Crandall, Historical Storytelling

April 8th - 8PM EST- La'Ron Williams, Supporting social justice through storytelling.

April 15th - 8PM EST– Jeff Gere, How you can Think Big with radio and TV.

April 22nd - 8PM EST– Jan Andrews & Jennifer Caylel,
The Power of Folktales in children’s lives.

April 29th - 8PM EST– Sally Crandall, Historical Storytelling.

May 6th - 8PM EST- Joshua Safford, Telling to the street – magic for eye.

May 13th - 8PM EST– Buck Creacy, What makes stuff funny in storytelling?

May 20th - 8PM EST– Karen Chace, Story by story, building a school storytelling club.

May 27th - 8PM EST– Avner, Avner Eisenberg, Avner the Eccentric,
The Body Tells the Story.

June 3rd - - 8PM EST– Dovie Thomason, Building Young Adult Audiences.

June 10th - - 8PM EST– Mary Jo Huff,
Early Literacy begins with rhythm rhyme & story time.

June 17th - - 8PM EST– Laura Simms,
What Happens in the Mind of Children during a story?

June 24th - - 8PM EST– Jim May, Storytelling in Classrooms .

July 1st – 8PM EST– Jack Zipes, Fairytales are still relevant.

July 15th – 8PM EST – Tom McCormack,
How indigenous storytelling bridges cultures.


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Past shows available online at http://www.artofstorytelling.com/ for immediate listening or through iTunes as a podcast.

Mary Hamilton, "Working on Our Work" Storytelling Weekend.

Jonathan Wright, Cross-Cultural Storytelling.

Medicine Story, The Power of Mythology with Children.

Lyn Ford, Breaking into Storytelling.

Doug Lipman, Selling Ourselves Outside the Storytelling Community.

Judith Black, Child-Based Stories.

Jim Flanagan, Teaching Writing to Children with Storytelling and
Working with State Benchmarks.

Stephen Hollen,, Improvisational Storytelling with Children
Creativity and Children.

Bill McKelll , Founding a Storytelling Festival from Scratch.

Camp Directors:, Kate Fox, Ellyce Cavanaugh, and Zayanne Thompson
Storytelling with Children at Camp.

Kevin Cordi, Children Telling Stories – Giving Children a Voice.

Rick Carson, Working with Fear and Children.

Cynthia Changaris, Singing with Stories for Children.

Carol Birch, Working with Copyrights - How We Do the Work.

Eric James Wolf, Going to the Next Level with Your Storytelling Business.

Ellen Munds, Executive Director of Arts Indiana. The A B C’s of Running a Festival.

ETHNOHTEC, Your Highest Vision and the Nitty-Gritty of your Storytelling Practice.

Rev Victoria Burdick, M Div Hospice Chaplin, Storytelling in Ceremony.


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Cristin Thomas, Director of the Tejas Storytelling Association. Exposing New Audiences to Storytelling.

Steve Otto, one of the founders of the Chicken Festival with Bringing Storytelling to New Communities.

Carolyn Franzini, Director of the Cave Run Storytelling Festival. Running the Festival and How Storytellers Become Candidates for Telling at the Festival.

Julie Mills, Festival Organizer of the Northern Kentucky Storytelling Festival.
Building a Successful Storytelling Festival at Your Library.

Mary Margaret O'Connor, Owner of Itales.com. Digital Storytelling using emerging technologies with your storytelling.

Larry Johnson, Key of See Storytellers. How storytelling in your school and classroom creates successful leaders.

Onawumi Jean Moss, Using culturally driven objects to create entertaining storytelling festivals.

Rachel Hedman, Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance. Child tellers speak out: what they wish adults knew.

Karen Czarnik, Conversation and songs for the timid singer.

Brother Blue, Street Storytelling and more.

Fran Stallings, Environmental storytelling telling Hope to inspire action.

K. Sean Buvala, Telling for Teens and Tweens.

Mark Wagler, Reshaping classrooms with narrative pedagogy.

Heather Forest, Musical Folktales for Children.

Tim Sheppard, The Authentic Playful Storyteller

Elizabeth Rose, Empowering teachers to use storytelling.

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End
Storytelling with Children Website