Comments on: Decolonising Identity Stories by Tileah Drahm-Butler

By: Anna Weber

Anna Weber — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 20:07:37 +0000

This module spurred thinking for me around the question of how I increase approachability and invitation for accountability of my own practice. I am especially recognizing the systemic ways that disinvest people from being able to make critiques and the ways that I am mostly held accountable by insurance companies as opposed to the individuals with whom I work. I appreciate Just Therapy’s framework and plan to look more into their practices. I am considering how the power dynamic between client and therapist could be one example for how I can invite and structure accountability, whether through treatment update questions or discharge plans that specifically center feedback from the client on what is missing, what they need, or how therapy could change.

Collaboration in medical records and viewing one’s therapy notes as an extension of their story also brought multiple questions for me on the practice I have witnessed in substance use treatment centers where client’s notes are used “against” or “for” them in child and youth services or drug court hearings. I am wondering how to ethically use collaboration when a client might want something like a relapse to be kept out of their notes. At the same time, preferred stories cannot be ungrounded and I am still considering ways in which I could ethically work with a client to rewrite a story that is used in hearings surrounding parental rights.

By: Glynis Thorp

Glynis Thorp — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 05:11:38 +0000

Thankyou for sharing Tileah. Narrative therapy fits just so well when working with Indigenous peoples. I am always keen to learn more. Story telling is such an important part of their lives and those who live and interact with Indigenous peoples.

By: aussiesal@gmail.com

aussiesal@gmail.com — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 06:37:26 +0000

More wonderful knowledge and experiences shared on this page. I am learning more about decolonisation practices, and the idea that decolonisation continues today. The presentation about June inspired me to continue to ask questions about how the said problem is truly influencing someones life.

By: Steven Colbran

Steven Colbran — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 21:53:13 +0000

Our identity is our story sits so key in the work we do in this space.
Giving people the opportunity to tell their stories with a focus on the indigenous world view.
There is such an opportunity to talk and yarn and tell stories with purpose and work through any impacts of problems on people’s lives. Rather than seeing them as a problem themselves.
Re-authoring is a really interesting concept and valuable experience for all, looking for alternative stories.
Steven Colbran
Mackay QLD
Australia

By: debbie webster

debbie webster — Mon, 31 May 2021 02:30:08 +0000

Using narrative practice as a decolonizing tool in therapy sessions and valuing the experience of the storytellers is a great way forward and honors the storytellers as owners of their own valued life experiences. This allows for a collaborative approach to therapy sessions.

By: Sandra Owen

Sandra Owen — Sat, 01 May 2021 01:17:05 +0000

I thoroughly enjoyed and feel grateful for the opportunity to be allowed to hear your narrative i.e. learning journey and appreciate the precious gift of being allowed to hear the stories of others who have been through so much in their journey. In my reflection, I see decolonizing as awesome and necessary to offer empowerment back to their self-worth and esteem. I can only say as an outside witness. It moves me when I hear their fight for justice. I ally with them to uphold their justice journey.

By: korelai@yahoo.com.hk

korelai@yahoo.com.hk — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 22:56:07 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing. It is so inspiring for me. I jotted notes while watching the video. People who come to consult me are the expert of their lives and asking right questions to further enrich their stories is so important. I will keep it in mind that while I’m doing the project in community I’m part of it. Thank you.

By: Kate C

Kate C — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 09:18:49 +0000

A thoughtful insight into Tileahs’ work and approach. It is heartening to read or listen to these stories where people, through narrative practices may be restored to themselves without the problem. It’s very powerful to consider how impactful this must be for Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander people in Australia as colonisers have used those damage-centred stories to keep people from finding their strength and resistance.

By: sjwalker

sjwalker — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 22:59:31 +0000

I really enjoyed listening about June. The idea of collaboration and really allowing the voice of the client/patient to be heard is so valuable. Not only as the person placed to offer help, but to the client/patient. It offers a clear invitation to them with respect, no judgement and a recognition of vulnerability and trust being present. I loved the question ‘is it ok that SP impacts you being social/your relationships’ and the time for June to ponder to have that honest moment with herself and say ‘No!’. I feel like in that moment she was able to decide to take control back of her life. It is those moments that are so heart warming and fill you with pride – when the person chooses to fight for themselves and to want to be accountable and responsible for the life they life/want to live.

By: Michele McCrea

Michele McCrea — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 04:32:50 +0000

The extracts and videos in this section have been inspiring to me, especially ‘Just Therapy’ and Tileah’s presentation on Decolonising Identity Stories. I now have more confidence and tools to continue and develop the collaborative groupwork I am currently doing with migrant women’s groups in Australia.

By: Lynda Shevellar

Lynda Shevellar — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 03:08:05 +0000

Thank you Tileah for this beautiful warm presentation. I loved your framing of narrative practice as a spiritual practice. I am particularly grateful for your problematising of wellbeing – and the resulting invitation to people to define what wellbeing might mean for them. There is so much richness here to reflect on further. Thank you for your generosity in sharing these ideas.
Warmly, Lynda Shevellar

By: Mercy Shumbamhini

Mercy Shumbamhini — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 12:42:04 +0000

I am Mercy Shumbamhini from Harare, Zimbabwe. I have enjoyed the articles on collaboration and accountability in this chapter. I was touched by June’s experience with outsider witness retellings. I have used collaboration and accountability in my work with children and their families and with widows. What I found helpful in this work is the use of the bottom up and non-blaming approaches. I can say that this is not all that easy, it requires an on-going personal reflection and receiving feedback practices from the people who consult with me. I would like to continue learning with the people whom I meet to co-create narrative practices and ideas that respect their knowledges, skills and ways of life that they prefer.

By: Pat

Pat — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 15:48:19 +0000

Thank you Tileah! I love your language and you make it so accessible. The “Strong Story” will stay with me forever. You make it possible for me to imagine a day when the indigenous people of the Americas will also experience such profound respect for their knowledges and ways of life.

By: debbie r

debbie r — Sun, 12 Apr 2020 09:52:24 +0000

as a financial counsellor it is interesting to hear about the thoughts around counsellor verses yarning and how it impacts upon people attending.

By: ShiPing Jiang

ShiPing Jiang — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 01:34:55 +0000

Tileah presents two cases very clearly from her de-centered position to successfully externalize the problems from the people, the clients. Tileah empowers her client by de-contructing her clients’ stories from the perspective of social and cultural context, and re-authoring their stories in co-operative manner, which it demonstrates their co-researcher positioning. The whole presentation is enjoyable to watch and insightful.

By: Elizabeth Tomlins

Elizabeth Tomlins — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 04:56:59 +0000

thank you for this message and the content of this presentation.
Thank you for speaking of Yarning & Shame. As a non Aboriginal mother of Aboriginal Children working in Family Services with Families often disconnected with their history your message provides confirmation and knowledge that will help me in both my work and family.
I am encouraged to acknowledge my families expertise in their lives.
Also encouraged by June’s story what great ways to empower those whose lives we work with; Further the man with no name and the writing of hospital notes is so encouraging as I will bring this to my time with families and further encourage them to collaborate with me in writing their story in notes that will be read by others.
Thank you for another great time of learning.

By: Lou Scanlan

Lou Scanlan — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 03:18:04 +0000

In reply to Sue Phillips. I enjoyed hearing this, thank you Tileah. Particularly how you explored the origins of values of importance, bringing them to the front and connecting them to the person's strength story. Love it. Thank you.

By: Sue Phillips

Sue Phillips — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 01:17:33 +0000

Thank you Tileah, yes even our language counselling verses Yarning could make a big difference to engagement and hearing their story & understand their perspective without judgement & honouring others’ knowledge and emotional and social wellbeing, also the knowing of shame that impacts with the story told.
THANK YOU

By: Jocelyn Phelps

Jocelyn Phelps — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 20:59:22 +0000

Thank you to Tileah for a wonderful presentation. I love hearing the word “yarn” used in this powerful way (Americans also have that term). The practice of “translating”, of shifting concepts into language that can be more usefully heard, is very powerful. As coaches we can make good use of this to help clients uncover their hidden or forgotten resources.

By: Carly Tredway

Carly Tredway — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 19:57:48 +0000

This is a lovely presentation that speaks volumes about the power and identity theft of colonisation for Australia’s first people. Without speakers like Tileah, the rest of Australia (all immigrants of some description), we could not know this perspective or the power of a yarn.
Thank you