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Abstract

This chapter brings narratives to the forefront. It begins by discussing the difference between narratives and stories and goes on to present different perspectives on why narratives are important for social work practice and education. To help illustrate the applicability of a narrative perspective to social work, the story of a client is interwoven into the fabric of the chapter. We argue, through following the client’s story, that by shifting a client’s perspective of their own story to one of a narrative helps open possibilities for client empowerment. This chapter presents key theoretical perspectives on narratives in social work relevant to practice and pedagogy.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Avril’s story is fictitious and not based on any particular person.

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Correspondence to Michael Wallengren-Lynch .

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Lane, L., Wallengren-Lynch, M. (2020). The Power of Narratives. In: Lane, L., Wallengren-Lynch, M. (eds) Narratives of Social Work Practice and Education in Sweden. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45874-4_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45874-4_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-45873-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-45874-4

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