Journal October 2026 Special DISPUK Release_Full Version - Flipbook - Page 49
48
A Pine Says Thank You: On Finding Agency in Relationships with Places
Lasse Hauge, DISPUK
In narrative practice, we often associate the concept of re-membering with human
relationships that have been significant in a person9s life. But Michael White
actually reminded us that places, too, can be members of our life stories. A
particular place can serve as a witness to life, choices, and hope, and we can
explore how we are not only shaped by the place but also contribute to it. Through
practices such as therapeutic letter writing, these relationships can be given voice
and presence in new ways.
This article explores how the relationship with nature and places can become a
path to restoring agency—the sense of being able to act—especially for people
struggling with feelings of powerlessness.
The Sunflower at the End of the Road
As a young social work student, I worked in community care. Part of my job
involved visiting an elderly woman daily who was struggling with mental health
issues. Together, we drank coffee and rated her mood on a scale from 0 to 10.
She often had difficult days, but occasionally she was happy. When I asked why,
she would say things like,
