Power, Control and Beyond: An Interview With Tod Augusta-Scott and a Client Who Perpetrated Sexual Abuse

Abstract

Tod Augusta-Scott is a narrative therapist from Bridges, a domestic violence counseling program in Nova Scotia, Canada. For many years Tod has been working in innovative ways with men to assist them to free their lives from violence. In pursuing this interview with Tod, my hope was to have him highlight his therapeutic posture, experience, and innovative practice of narrative therapy in the context of working with men who use abuse. However, as we discussed the potential for the interview we felt concern about the privileged position of the professional’s voice in the conversation. We struggled with many questions. What would be left out if only two professionals discussed the topic? What effect would this interview have on shaping ideas about how to work with men who have used violence? Whose voice was missing? In an attempt to begin to address these concerns, Tod agreed to invite Joshua,1 a man he worked with who had sexually abused his daughter, to join the conversation. In this effort, Joshua has moved from the role of past therapy participant (client) to consultant to us about his experiences. What follows is a multi-voiced account of therapy and its effects, and reflections from both the professional and therapy participant. Tod’s practice has primarily been influenced by therapists Alan Jenkins (1990, 1996, 2009), and Michael White (1990, 1994, 2007; White and Epston, 1990). The client Joshua was a laborer living on a low income who had a grade eight education. He worked with Tod for eighteen months prior to being sentenced to