Presentation at the National Family Violence Networking System Conference 2022 Slides: Download Narrative Therapy with Men who use Violence Journey Tool Handout: Download Fareez Handouts (Will add a writeup here soon) Continue reading

“They tell me this place is keras, lots of Jinn and ghosts around,” Rosli started, opening his cracked lips take a long drag of his rolled-up cigarette. “But I tell them this is all bullshit. I got sleep under trees, near the toilet. Even Sembawang park, near the Mandai Crematorium,... Continue reading

Here are the resources for my presentation on Narrative ideas in Supervision My presentation slides: Download Narrative Social Work Supervision The Hero's journey can be a tool to support the new social worker in understanding what drew her into practice, and the responses she is taking to the challenges that... Continue reading

Contrary to my prior posts, the open expression of emotions and appreciation is not something easily done by myself (we could have a discussion on whether its related to my culture, or my own historical upbringing, but that would probably have to be another post by itself.) How then do... Continue reading

Here are the resources for presentation on using Narrative methods in working with Patients experiencing ESRD (End Stage Renal Dialysis) Presentation Download Narrative Methods of working with Patients With ESRD Hero's Journey Template Download Hero's journey_Chronic Illness Bringing Forth the Narratives of Strengths in Interviews (Epston and Ingamells, 2012) Identifying... Continue reading

Advantages of Mindfulness Practices For this section, I will draw on my own training as a social worker where I have started to realise the importance of body-oriented interventions in view of my understanding of Steven Porges’ Polyvagal theory (Porges, 2017). Porges discusses how the vagal nerve, which connects the... Continue reading

STOREEZ (UEN 53412003B) seeks to build and support empowering stories for individuals, groups and communities through Narrative Therapy and Community work, Strengths based coaching, mindfulness and other collaborative practices. Continue reading

Someone I know passed away this week, someone who played a part in my leadership journey. I won't say that I know him well, neither would I say that he was particularly influential in shaping my life. Nonetheless, I think it important that I preserve some insights I gleaned from... Continue reading

For my presentation handout on ideas that have started influencing our social work practice, Click the Link below Download Narrative social work practice Caterpillar Story to identify skills of children. Download Caterpillar dreams Continue reading

Was binge watching Harry Potter over the Chinese New Year weekend, and thought that the ideas of the pensieve and portkeys were useful metaphors to think about conversations we might want to have when working through the process of grief. The Pensieve Conversation: Tapping on memories for healing I sometimes... Continue reading

The place where I staying, is somewhere in this picture. My latest adventure has found me in Toronto, where I am involved in a work externship with the wonderful team at Oolagen, a youth mental health service that is influenced by Narrative ideas, not only in working with the people... Continue reading

(developed by Sarah Strauven, Phoebe Barton, & Olivia Henry) ~ last edited 29 Oct 2015 This document can be used by community workers and those who consult them (referred to here as 'community members') to notice and respond to privilege enacted by the 'worker' or the service. Responses can focus... Continue reading

This website represents a collective movement towards finding ways to address power and privilege in the organisational setting. Most of us are from diverse healing organisations. As we work with a diverse group of people who consult us in times affected by difficulty, we find it important to be mindful... Continue reading

In 2013, a number of us from my organisation coined the term "Preferential Flexployment" as a viable alternative to structured forms of employment in Singapore (we skilfully played on the terms flexible employment, combined them to create flexployment! Get it? No?) As mentioned by the newscaster (smugly I might add),... Continue reading

As I partake in my journey into social work leadership, I thought that it would be good to start documenting some bites of tips and ideas from books I have read, which I have started using in the teams I am in. Liz Wiseman's book "Multipliers" talks about how good... Continue reading

The practice of getting our clients to fill up a non-suicide contract is common in risk management work. Whenever there is a risk of suicide, we tend to be compelled to get our clients to fill up this form, which states that they would not be attempting suicide as it... Continue reading

(dedicated to the therapists of the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture) Meandering hills Dusty Roads Stories of Despair Stories of Pain Despair and pain are but Filters Layers of Dirt That I must wade through With hope as the key Hope is the key It unearths Stories... Continue reading

The following recording is the outsider witness response to the Life Certificate presentation we did at the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture (TRC) in Ramallah, Palestine. The respondents are: Ala' Harb, a psychologist from the TRC; and Mehmet Dinc, clinical psychologist and lecturer from Istanbul, Turkey. Hana... Continue reading

One might be wondering why in the world is this Singaporean social worker in Jerusalem. Unfortunately, a specific answer to the question would probably not be found in this post (perhaps a later one). For the time being, will just be sharing certain key experiences worth documenting. Today a couple... Continue reading

We had the chance to present the Life Certificate methodology in grief work in Ramallah Palestine, at the Second International/Palestinian Narrative Congress. The Congress, with the theme "Strengthening Stories of Survival and Resistance", was a joint collaboration between the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture (TRC), and Dulwich... Continue reading

We had the chance to present the Life Certificate methodology in grief work in Ramallah Palestine, at the Second International/Palestinian Narrative Congress. The Congress, with the theme "Strengthening Stories of Survival and Resistance", was a joint collaboration between the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture (TRC), and Dulwich... Continue reading

In this "Snapshots" series clip from the Foster Care Film and Community Engagement Project (fostercarefilm.com), Charell Charleston discusses what one caseworker did to make her feel special as a young child in foster care. Foster Care Film Snapshots: Charell on Caseworkers from Foster Care Film on Vimeo. Continue reading

It is easy for us to start dismissing and disliking people. We do it by ascribing labels on behaviours we find upsetting. The problem with labels is that, once placed, we start to be blind to the range of behaviours or state- of-being that lie outside the label's "sphere of... Continue reading

My wife, recently came up with this song for our Fikri: Strawberry Shortcake, Blueberry Pie, When you're feeling sad, its ok to cry When you are done crying Wipe away your tears It's time to get moving Time to face your fears! Yay!! (followed by exaggerated facial expressions of joy... Continue reading

In our current state with the profligacy of social media. we are more connected than ever. We find ourselves plugged into this superinformation highway where we may assume that facts are quickly accessible. The ability for any individual blogger, news organisation, or interest group to utilise these platforms is rendered... Continue reading