IDEAS, NEWS AND RESOURCES | April 2023 |
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The Taos Institute's mission is to bring together scholars and practitioners concerned with the social processes essential for the construction of reason, knowledge, and human value, and their application in relational, collaborative and appreciative practices around the world. |
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The Many Ways to Get Involved! |
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Featuring a Book on Narratives of Transporting a Relational-Conversational Practice: Across Contexts and Disciplines
We live in challenging times, with daily changes in our worlds. Adding the pandemic to our everyday lives, fundamental normalness and security have become normlessness and insecurity. What I have learned from clients, colleagues, and friends is that masking and quarantining, and the horrible early deaths of friends and loved ones, made them feel fearful, weary, alienated, and irritated. Now, coupled with the global economic downturn and the war in Ukraine, radical uncertainty for some has become an obstacle to imaging a hopeful future. Some even report their sense of dignity and imagined futures were adversely affected.
Shortly before the onset of the pandemic, Taos Associate Diane Gehart and I committed to edit a book with narratives of how others were translating or applying collaborative-dialogic (relational-conversational) therapy approach to diverse contexts, disciplines, and cultures. We invited colleagues who were using the concepts and practice orientation beyond the therapeutic milieu.
During the height of the pandemic the authors wrote on work completed before it. Most highlighted the importance of relationship and conversation. For instance, authors narrated stories of climate activist consultants, educators, researchers, medical professionals, and IT company managers who successfully engaged in relationships and conversations that created spaces and processes for surprising change. Other authors wrote on the ever-presence of ethical and political considerations of the practice and on the similarities in Toni Morrison’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech and the principles of a relational-conversational approach. The narrated stories impressed, fascinated, and touched us. We enthusiastically wanted to share them.
Diane and I created a Zoom Book Symposium for authors to highlight fragments of their narratives about their experiences in crossing contextual and disciplinary boundaries. What we think their work represents is a humanizing factor. That is, practitioners who considered themselves as human beings working with other human beings, meeting and interacting with others with genuine respect and interest, and in which people felt valued, listened to, and treated with dignity. Importantly, for me is something I learned years ago from interviewing therapy clients about their interactions with professional helpers such as therapists, physicians, teachers, principals, attorneys, judges, and soccer coaches, in other words, people perceived to be in positions of authority. What were the characteristics of the people with whom they had successful relationships and would not mind meeting again and what were the characteristics of those they wanted to never encounter again? They emphasized the importance of leaving the successful relationship engagements with their dignity intact. They felt that if they did not have a resolution, they could have freedom from being imprisoned by their life challenges and a new sense of hope for desired futures.
We hope you can read some of the narratives or watch the authors summaries. Each chapter author and their colleagues are uniquely, and in a small dynamic manner, making the world a better place. At The Taos Institute, we aim to make the world a better place one conversation at a time. I would insert “humanizing relationship.” Find the book at: www.therapythatworksinstitute.com/CDPractices.
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Upcoming changes at The Taos Institute |
The Taos Institute Board of Directors would like to announce a significant change in the structure of the Taos Institute. As of June 1, 2023, our beloved colleague, Dawn Dole, will be stepping down as our Executive Director after 30 years of service. Dawn has been the backbone of the Taos Institute. She has ceaselessly turned ideas for programs, initiatives, events, conferences, books, and more, into shimmering realities. Over these years, she has worked diligently, patiently, and collaboratively with Associates and volunteers from the world over to grow a community of people interested in social constructionist, relational, and appreciative ideas and practices. Most fortunately, Dawn will be remaining in a consulting role to the Board and to her successor.
We are both proud and delighted to announce that as of June 1, Alex Arnold will step into the role of Executive Director of the Taos Institute.
Alex has been working alongside Dawn for the past 4.5 years. She comes to us with fresh ideas, a passion to serve, and an eager desire to see the Institute flourish. She is also very happy that Dawn will remain to support and advise as needed. We can all look forward with pleasure to working with her.
And stand by for further information on a gala farewell for Dawn!
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What's Happening in the Commons |
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Join with over 700 members in the Taos Institute Commons, our new online community, as we explore social constructionist, relational, and appreciative theory and practices. To make it even easier for you to connect with one another, we invite you to attend one of the upcoming events in the Commons: Taos Conversations are informal, interactive, and stimulating conversations on a particular topic. Meet & Greets are offered every two weeks. Stop by to say hello, even if only for a few minutes. Both are free and open to all.
about the many ways to become a part of our global family.
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April 21, 2023, 10:00 am EST
Proponemos un espacio de diálogo y colaboración de saberes, en donde les invitamos a compartir y reflexionar en torno a nuestras historias con la investigación, así como cuáles podrían ser sus efectos en nuestras prácticas clínicas y profesionales. Con Cintia Aguilar-Delgadillo y Vanessa Guzmán-Díaz. Español/Portugués
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May 11, 2023, 11:00 am
In our University for Applied Science, a teacher training institute for primary schools in the Netherlands, we are currently transforming our research approach based on social constructionist thought. You are invited to share your experiences of relational research and how to use the voice of all in the research process. Is anything possible? Are there limitations? With Loek Schoenmakers. English.
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April 17, 2023, 1:00 pm EST
May 3, 2023, 6:00 pm EST
We invite you to join this informal gathering to meet other Taos Institute Commons members and share stories of how you are applying (or hoping to apply) social constructionist, relational and appreciative approaches into your work and life. Stop by to say hello and introduce yourself even if you can't stay for the whole time - we'd love to meet you!
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Dialogue with the Authors |
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with Celiane Camargo-Borges & Sheila McNamee
April 14, 2023
11:00am - 12:00pm EST
The book introduces the Constructionist Research Design Process as a framework for research that is creative, transformative and innovative. It can be used by any professional and researcher who wants to develop creative inquiry and to promote social change. It integrates the theory of social construction with the tools of design thinking, challenging the concept of dualisms in research such as quantitative/qualitative and subjective/objective. The focus is on the complex relational achievement required to construct a worldview where different relational (research) processes construct different realities (knowledge). In this sense, all truths are contextual truths, co-created in a specific time and useful to a specific context.
Join us for a conversation with the authors. Register here.
LIMITED TIME OFFER: 20% off the purchase of the book during the month of April. Use code designthinking20
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All past Dialogue with the Author recordings are available on our YouTube channel!
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Starting April 27, 2023
This yearly program offers professionals interested in expanding their understanding of dialogue and of the generative perspective a series of new resources that will allow them to establish dialogic relationships, and to recognize and work on creative moments and generative processes. Geared to professionals working with people and groups in different fields, it has an international faculty. The program provides an exceptional space for dialogue, reflection, and learning together, as well as the opportunity to belong to a multidisciplinary network of professionals who work with innovations and creativity in various domains of practice and social contexts. More details here.
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May 12, 2023, 10:00am-5:00pm EST
An online workshop with Amy Druker, MSW
This workshop is for people who are new(er) to narrative therapy and interested in learning (or learning more) about its collaborative, respectful and socially just ways of understanding people and problems. By refusing to locate problems inside of people, and by always seeing problems in the broader cultural context in which these problems were produced, narrative therapy stands against the individualizing and pathologizing of people’s suffering. The intention of this workshop is to offer participants a taste of the politics and ethics that guide narrative therapy practices, and to consider how and in what ways these values and ethics fit and/or don’t fit with their own values, ethics and preferred ways of being in this work. Click here for details.
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June 9-10, 2023
An online program with Suzanne Gazzolo, PhD, LCPC & Matt Mooney, LICSW
This skill-based, two-day training is for people wanting to learn how narrative therapy ideas are put into practice in therapeutic settings. In particular, we explore externalizing practices and skills in the context of deconstructing and re-authoring therapy conversations. Clinical examples and experiential exercises will help support participants’ learning. Participants can expect to learn how narrative practitioners work to help people separate their lives from problems and identify new steps they can take that fit with their hopes and values. After completing this course, you can further your skill development through NTI's Narrative Certificate Program, which begins each fall. Details available here.
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New Book
By Kenneth J. Gergen
This fully updated fourth edition of Gergen’s An Invitation to Social Construction introduces you to a key theoretical movement in contemporary social science through a wide range of multidisciplinary examples. The fourth edition includes: wider consideration of contemporary global challenges, increased coverage of media, digital culture, and relevant political issues, and updated real-world examples of social constructionist theory in action, in research, education, therapy, organizations, and peace building. Get 25% off with code TAOSINST25 at Sagepub.com or ebooks.com
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New Book
By Carla Guanaes-Lorenzi e Pedro Martins
Este livro tem o intuito de contribuir com profissionais de saúde que trabalham com famílias que convivem com o sofrimento emocional e que desejam, em sua prática cotidiana, estabelecer diálogos que gerem novas possibilidades e recursos para a ação. Ao longo do livro, compartilhamos nossa trajetória de estudo e pesquisa na área de saúde mental e relatamos resultados de uma pesquisa que desenvolvemos sobre a prática das reuniões familiares em saúde mental, em que buscamos refletir sobre ações que podem, potencialmente, contribuir para a construção da comunicação dialógica.
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Podcast
With Celiane Camargo-Borges
This podcast by the Digital Society School and Transformational Studio explores more responsible ways to use the global transformation for the benefit of society. In this episode, Taos Institute Board Member Celiane Camargo-Borges talks about the potential of dialogue, collective creativity, Imagineering Design and social change. In her view, dialogue is a resource to design an environment in which people can become creative and innovative.
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Issue 12 is Available
This free journal brings together members of a growing international community of practitioners, scholars, educators, researchers, and consultants interested in postmodern collaborative practices.
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FREE downloadable books in 12 different languages. Like all of the Taos Institute Publications, WorldShare Books represent significant contributions relevant to social constructionist theory and practice. With over 30 books in English and many more from around the world, you will enjoy reading about education, spirituality, organizational life, community building, group dynamics, leadership and more.
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By focusing on the positive aspects of aging and the availability of resources, skills, and resiliencies, research brings useful insights into the realm of practice, creates hope and empowers action among older people. By moving beyond practices of repair and prevention, to emphasize growth-enhancing activities, practitioners also contribute more effectively to the societal reconstruction of aging. For 20 years, late Taos Institute co-founder Mary Gergen, Ph.D. has inspired and driven the publication of this free newsletter - also translated in 9 languages!
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Access hundreds of articles and papers on topics such as:
- Appreciative Inquiry
- Collaborative Practices
- Dialogic Practices
- Creativity and Change
- Narrative Practices
- Relational Research
- Relational Learning
- Qualitative Research
- and so much more!
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In the current global context, the work in which we engage is more important than ever. You can make a difference by supporting our mission to create a promising future through social construction. Read more
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In loving memory of Taos Institute co-founder and board member Mary Gergen, Ph.D.. Mary was an innovator in feminist theory, social constructionism, and qualitative methods. She was an inspiration and mentor to thousands of people around the world. She deeply cared about making the world a better place and her contributions will be felt for generations. Read more
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