Narrative Supervision as a Social Justice Practice

Abstract

Narrative therapy has been acknowledged for its ability to contribute to current social justice efforts in the field of mental health. In particular, the interweaving of narrative theory with the analysis of modern power has created a unique approach to therapy that provide tools to challenge oppressive influences that negatively affect clients’ lives. However, there is limited research on how and to what extent these social justice initiatives are applied within the realm of clinical supervision. This article presents a framework for narrative supervision that explores how specific social justice ideas can be applied during the supervision process with mental health professionals. Clinical examples addressing gender discourse are presented to illustrate the workings of a narrative supervision framework with a supervision group.