Imagination and metaphor in narrative therapy and collective practice

In this paper I explore the use of metaphors in the creation of externalised problem narratives for individuals and larger collectives, as well as in the creation of preferred alternative narratives. Through practice examples, I relate some of the ways in which I have been working with imagination and metaphor in my own context in Western Australia. This includes therapeutic work with individuals, as well as collective processes in which I have been able to apply narrative principles. How this connects to the broader field of narrative work is also explored, as are some issues related to ethics and power.