journal_august_2026_release_full_edition - Flipbook - Page 115
114
subsequently uses the letter. This is also partly the purpose of definitional
ceremonies with outsider witnesses, which aim for both acknowledgment and
resonance.
With that in mind, and by way of illustration, we will now unfold the experience
that the three of us had, commenting on it in terms of understanding, intentions,
precautions, and effects on the various protagonists.
Part 2 – Presentation of the situation brought up for supervision (Sophie)
Sandrine came to see me following a recommendation from a friend who knew
about my work as a narrative practitioner. Having also heard about narrative
practices in her work, she thought she would give it a try.
Sandrine is a young woman who appears to have it all. She has a happy family life
and a job she loves, even though it is a difficult one. This feeling of a 8happy life9
contributes to her difficulty in understanding, when she comes to see me, what is
paralysing and distressing her. Sandrine does not want to take antidepressants or
anti-anxiety medication because she tells me she wants to remain lucid. She is the
kind of 8strong woman9 who is capable of managing her emotions and, as
Catherine sensed, strong enough to assert her ideas and make her own decisions.
Since our first meeting, she has described the problem she is struggling with as
8unexplained anxiety9. How can you explain such anxiety when you have a 8happy
life9: a supportive partner who shares the same vision of family, a loving family,
young children in good health, and a job you love? It's a demanding job, but it's in
line with her values. Sandrine works in the challenging field of social and family
support.
She talked to me about her professional stance. We know she is wholehearted.
She has her own ideas about injustice, strong professional values, and a nonjudgmental attitude towards families. She deals with families in great difficulty
and children who are suffering greatly. The suffering of these children moves her
deeply.
I Could See Myself in Her … Practising Insider Witnessing in Supervision
Journal of Contemporary Narrative Therapy, August 2026 Release, p. 111-135.
www.journalcnt.com
