Principles and Practices in Narrative Medicine

We are storytelling beings who generally experience life through forming, sharing, receiving, assessing, and responding to narratives. Grounded in this understanding, the field of narrative medicine emerged in the 1990s as a framework for humanizing health care through its focus on whole individuals and their storied lives. Originating with physicians, nurses, and emergency responders, its principles and practices are effective for anyone who provides support, guidance, and/or education to others. You are invited to learn more in this three-hour workshop in which you will be introduced to the field and, more importantly, have the opportunity to practice a range of narrative techniques. Specifically, you will engage in reflective writing exercises, share stories, discuss group-work dynamics and feedback techniques, read published narratives from mental health professionals, and explore other forms of mental-health related art. The overall goal is that you emerge from the experience with practices that will aide you in both your professional and personal journey.

Objectives
In the Principles and Practices in Narrative Medicine workshop, participants will:

1. learn about the psychosocial issues within health care that led to the establishment of narrative medicine.
2. explore the ramifications of our current global crisis and consider how the use of narrative might provide growth and healing.
3. practice a range of reflective writing exercises designed to help the writer unburden challenging emotions, process uncertainty, and bear witness to the lives of others and self.
4. connect with professionals in mental health through the sharing of experiences.
5. analyze published narratives and other forms of art relating to mental health.
6. discuss approaches to healthy group-work dynamics and providing feedback.

Presented by: Adrian Matt Zytkoskee, PhD
Dr. Matt Zytkoskee holds an MA in Teaching Writing from Humboldt State University and a PhD in English with a specialization in narrative medicine from University of Nevada, Reno. He has taught writing of all types in university and community group settings since 2005 and devotes a great deal of his efforts and research toward the use of reflective writing as a tool for catharsis of challenging emotions, processing uncertainty, and bearing witness to the plights of others and self. His recent essay “The Things She Left Behind” appeared in the award-winning anthology Against Death: 35 Essays on Living.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs): 3

This training is approved for CEUs by the following professional organizations:

National

• National Association of Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)
• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)*
• International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC)

*CASAT has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6492. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CASAT is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Nevada

• Nevada Board of Examiners for Alcohol, Drug, & Gambling Counselors
• Nevada State Board of Nursing
• Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors
• State of Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers