The King Is Dead; Long Live the King: Narrative Therapy and Practicing What We Preach

Narrative therapy has been associated with the assumptions of postmodernism and social constructionism; both of which support the notion that there are no truths, just points of view. Thus, narrative therapists have sought to privilege the voices of their clients in the process of delivering them from the oppressive weight of dominant, cultural grand narratives. Have they been as willing and adept at respecting the voices of other professionals, and their colleagues within the narrative camp? This question is discussed in relation to the underlying assumptions that inform narrative practice. It is concluded that narrative has perhaps unwittingly fallen prey to the human tendency to reify metaphors and make gurus of leaders.