When I approached this book I wondered how it would differ from the established tradition of narrative medicine. Psychiatric practice, I assumed, is built on individuals’ narratives: the characters people find important in their lives, the histories they tell practitioners, the ordering and vocal way in which they formulate and narrate their experiences – all are cornerstones of both the assessment and therapeutic relationship-building process. I was therefore pleasantly surprised to find in Hamkins’ work jewels of practical and contemporary suggestions as to how narrative psychiatry can best be applied in a manner that strongly complements contemporary therapy and focuses on individualised recovery, strengths-based working and seeing the person as the expert in their own experiences whom we support and nurture towards their own goals.

Peppered with vignettes and stories about Hamkins’ own work (including, importantly, the words of individuals themselves reflecting on Hamkins’ re-telling of that work), the focus of narrative psychiatry is succinctly and interestingly demonstrated in this enjoyable text. The book concentrates on developing an individual’s strength and exploring their own tenacity – on the reframing towards survival narratives that they have already built and the positive identity and life that is already present. In this respect, the aim of narrative psychiatry, as Hamkins demonstrates, is not the professional rewriting of people’s stories or the development of a professionally defined ‘healthy’ identity, but on drawing out the strands of resourcefulness and resolve, of lived experiences outside of the distress or disordering that has brought a person into psychiatric care, and on the individual’s goals and focal points. As Hamkins says, ‘rather than privileging only stories of loss, suffering, conflict, neglect, or abuse in someone’s life, I also search for stories of joy, connection, intimacy, consistency, and success, for these are the wealth of the people who consult with us. Instead of privileging a story of failure, we co-author a story of successes in overcoming problems, no matter how small those successes may be’ (p. 50). I found this to be a useful perspective. This practical guide is relevant and easily applicable to all levels of psychiatric practice.