Following the River's Flow: A Conversation about Single Session Approaches with Aboriginal Families. Issue 3 (3rd November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Elliott, Alison; Dokona, James; von Doussa, Henry
• Other Names: Young Jeff guestEditor.; Rycroft Pam guestEditor.; Hoyt Michael guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Australian and New Zealand journal of family therapy. Volume 41:Issue 3(2020:Sep.)
• Page Start: 249
• Page End: 257
• Publication Date: 2020-11-03
• Subjects: Indigenous families -- decolonisation -- Dadirri -- oral tradition -- client‐led practice; Family psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Family psychotherapy -- Australia -- Periodicals; Family psychotherapy -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; Family counseling -- Periodicals; 616.89156
• DOI: 10.1002/anzf.1423
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0814-723X

Abstract

Abstract : Alison Elliott and James Dokona were interviewed by Henry von Doussa, and this article is the written version of that interview. In it, Alison and James separately refer to issues such as early skepticism about the applicability of a single session therapy approach with Indigenous families (Alison), a growing experience of its 'fit, ' philosophically and culturally, and the hope that can be engendered in one conversation. They underline the importance of the oral tradition, and other cultural concepts such as Dadirri (deep listening) as well as the trauma‐informed principles of choice, collaboration, and empowerment, through using their language, asking permission, working together on solutions, and not coming across as an expert. The article is infused with the practical ideas and the values inherent in the authors' work, including permission‐seeking, reflection, containment, and their use of a whiteboard as a resource to capture multiple perspectives, a genogram (including pets), and to facilitate yarning. The flow of this conversation in itself reflects James' imagery of the therapeutic conversation being like a river running – you don't know which way it's going to go.