A counselling session with Jenny is shaped by the client as well as by Jenny’s practice. The work is collaborative and the counselling work explores and deconstructs the problem’s story.

“There is compelling evidence to suggest that when counsellors and mental health professionals engage in a collaborative spirit, rather than an authoritative role, the cooperative process that emerges enhances change ” (Winslade & Monk, p.27, 2007). 

Always central to the narrative therapist's work is the belief that the person sitting in front of the counsellor has abilities, talents, positive intentions, and life experiences that can provide new possibilities for action and momentum for change. The counsellor expresses curiosity in the person’s knowledge and experience which could lead to questions such as these:

• What works best for you?

• What are your unique strengths, beliefs and values that keep you going through these difficult times?

• What ideas do you have to get the help and support you would like from others?

• What are your plans for change?

Scaffolding the work

Jenny’s questions will explore the territory of the problem and its relationship with you in your life. This process involves working and scaffolding conversations using different counselling techniques to assist in understanding the problem.

“I work in collaboration with the children, young people and adults who come to see me, to help them to resist and solve the effects of problems in their lives. With curiosity and exploration we trace and uncover preferred stories.”

Working together with the person who has come seeking help, they will collaborate to uncover the stories attached to the problem that has often become the dominant ‘voice’ in their lives. It is not uncommon to hear people speak of the problem as their identity, and to label themselves according to the problem. Jenny's questions will work to separate the problem from the person, and create space for the person to consider the problem from a distance rather than as part of their identity. This often takes place within a conversation that develops externalised descriptions of the problem into personifications. 

There are many examples of these stories in narrative therapy, such as the story of Mr Mischief who became the personification of ADHD in a child’s life.  This metaphor was developed by Michael White as he worked with the boy and his parents who had brought ADHD to counselling. 

Jenny will invite people to tell stories about their lives and follow their leads to include some of the more neglected but potentially significant events and experiences that are “out of phase” with their dominant storylines. 

These words from Michael White explain what happens. “These events and experiences can be considered “unique outcomes” or “exceptions” that provide a starting point for conversations that bring forward alternative storylines of people’s lives that at the outset are barely visible but as the conversations progress become more significant and provide people with a foundation for new initiatives in addressing the problems, predicaments and dilemmas of their lives.” 

These are some of the areas Jenny has worked in