Engaging men:
Invitational-narrative approaches

Summary and method

This qualitative study explored how invitational narrative ways of working successfully engage men and enable behavioural and attitudinal change. The study explored the historical and philosophical foundations of invitational narrative practice, and the principles and skills that practitioners use in their work.

The study was conducted in partnership with Uniting Communities in Adelaide and involved two stages. Stage 1 comprised a literature review and interviews with 7 experts in the field of invitational narrative approaches in South Australia. Stage 2 comprised interviews with men who use violence, with each man’s invitational narrative practitioner, and (where consent was obtained) with each man’s partner/ex-partner. In total there were 6 dyads (man and practitioner) and 5 triads (man, practitioner, and ex/partner).

Outcomes

Project outcomes provided greater understanding of the therapeutic and service delivery practices that lead men to engage with, or disengage from programs. Specifically the findings contributed to the growing understanding of key values and principles of invitational narrative ways of working that support engagement and enable change when working with men who use violence in their intimate partner relationships.

Overview and key findings: Engaging men who use violence – Invitational narrative approaches

In this video we hear from the project lead, Professor Sarah Wendt, who offers an overview and key findings of the ANROWS research project. Sarah discusses:

• the background of the research project
• INA, and how it seeks to create change that is self-generated, personally meaningful, and sustainable
• the strength of INA, and its capacity to engage men who use violence through curious inquiry, articulation of “ethical preferences”,  identifying what restrains participants from living in accordance with their ethical preferences, and creating an environment in which men can experience their shame
• INA’s unrelenting focus on women’s and children’s safety and on men’s accountability to others.

How invitational narrative ideas are used in practice

In this video we hear from project researcher Kate Seymour, who presents responses to INA from participants in the ANROWS research project, Engaging men who use violence: Invitational narrative approaches.

Kate offers analysis of quotes from men who use violence engaged in INA, the men’s partners, and the practitioner working with them, exploring how INAs are enabling behavioural and attitudinal change. Kate closes with a small group exercise.

Panel: Implications of invitational narrative approaches for policy

In this video, Vanessa Swan and Fiona Mort sit down with research lead Professor Sarah Wendt to discuss the implications for policy of the research and the challenges involved in creating and funding programs when large-scale studies of program outcomes are limited.

Panel: Implications of invitational narrative approaches for practice

Practitioners Regina Newchurch and Chris Dolman sit down with research lead Professor Sarah Wendt to discuss the implications for practice of the research, and the realities on the ground with working with men and young people who use violence.