Journal October 2026 Special DISPUK Release_Full Version - Flipbook - Page 17
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or a structure that helps me through the process of invitation writing without
requiring too much time to think about what to write has helped me to write
more invitations.
The content of my letters, which I try to write in a spirit or tone of collaboration,
has the following orientation points:
• I will write about why I am writing this letter. I write about what has
happened that made me sit down and write an invitation and the purpose
of the invitation. This is the part where I also write about what I have heard
about the problem(s) in people9s lives, for people to know what I know and
to help them get a sense of how I think and talk about this.
• I also write about what I have heard about the person9s interests and
values, which might tell more about the person than what we might learn
when focusing on the problem.
• I write something about what I have heard that resonates with my own life.
Small pieces of my own stories help me connect to the person I am writing
to, and it seems to go both ways.
• I write about what all the above has made me interested in talking about in
our first conversation, while leaving the door open to talk about anything.
• And of course, I will write about the practicalities of where, when, and who
else might be there.
To use this approach, I ask the person contacting me (often a parent or a
caretaker) a few questions to get a sense of the person they want me to meet.
Parents often want to tell me about the problem. While that can be useful, it9s not
my main focus in my initial talk with the parents or caretakers—unless the person
they want me to talk to is equally interested.
In my invitations, I try to witness the person, not just the problem. I ask parents
what their child has valued or appreciated in life, what has brought joy or interest,
what has been lighting them up. This allows me to write letters that acknowledge
not only the difficulties but also the person9s intentions, values, and commitments
Invitations: Shortcuts to a Relational Narrative Practice
Journal of Contemporary Narrative Therapy, October 2026 Special Release, p. 5-22
www.journalcnt.com
