The Power To Change Through The Change To Power: Narrative Therapy, Power and the Wilderness Enhanced Model

Abstract

Narrative Therapy is being adopted and utilised in many areas of therapeutic intervention. In the Family Therapy field, Wilderness Therapy is a little known development in Australia. However, overseas, connections between Wilderness based therapy and Family and Narrative Therapy is receiving considerable attention. In this paper use or abuse of power in the therapeutic relationship is explored within the context of Narrative and Wilderness therapy. Connections between discourses of power in Narrative Therapy and how that applies to the modus operandi of a wilderness experience in the construct of a change process is discussed. Comparisons between a diagnostic approach (modernist) and a constructivist approach (postmodernist) are drawn. This is not so much to Highlight the differences between the approaches but to emphasise the importance of allowing those participating the ability to gain the most from the experience. In return, they are given the freedom to construct another story which will enable them to replace what is a largely negative story