What Use Is a Story? Narrative, in Practice

This chapter helps the readers to develop an understanding of narrative theory, in particular how narrative techniques can support a shared exploration of meaning, in conversations and consultations, in educational psychology practice. It articulates a ‘narrative’ rationale for the ‘doing’ of educational psychology. The chapter provides a background of narrative theory, examining how meanings are generated from experience through narrative construction, and, in particular, examining how a person's identity is constructed through this process. Deconstructive analysis of texts, popular in literary theory, has become important within narrative theory. Several writers describe narrative practice as an inclusionary therapeutic approach. Narrative practitioners have developed externalisation in creative and playful directions. The chapter explores some of the possibilities for casework, the existing theory and evidence base emerging from narrative therapy/practice, as well as the emerging evidence base within educational and child psychology.