ABOUT SUZANNE COYLE
Suzanne’s life narratives include stories from experiences as a pastor, counseling center director, therapist, spiritual director, church consultant, seminary professor, and administrator. In addition to these many roles, she is President of Indiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Suzanne was introduced to the world of narrative practice through attending a workshop by Jill Freedman and Gene Combs. She says, “I remember commenting to a friend that this narrative approach seemed ‘theological’. Since that day, I’ve explored the deep worlds of meaning around narrative.”
Suzanne holds M.Div. and PhD degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and an AB degree from Centre College. Her doctoral studies included work at the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, Suzanne received clinical training at the Ackerman Institute for the Family in New York. She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Narrative Therapy and Community Work from the Dulwich Centre in Australia, the center co-founded by Michael White, the co-developer of narrative therapy. In addition to working with Jill Freedman and Gene Combs, Suzanne has trained with David Epston, the co-founder of narrative therapy, as well as Stephen Madigan, international narrative therapist and presenter. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist as well as a Diplomate in American Association of Pastoral Counselors, Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor in American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and Spiritual Directors International member.
Recently, Suzanne was named a Tutu Fellow for 2014-15 by the Desmond Tutu Center for Peace, Reconciliation, and Global Justice for her project promoting the use of collective narrative practice to provide a venue for marginalized populations to claim their own story. She also received funding for the training of five students in collective narrative practice.
Suzanne has presented nationally and internationally on narrative practice at the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, International Family Therapy Association World Congress, and the Dulwich Centre in Australia. She leads seminary students in a cultural immersion course utilizing narrative practice in Appalachia. Suzanne also consults with congregation on ways to re-story their stories of faith for more vibrant faith. Book chapters, articles, and books about narrative include her recent books Re-storying Your Faith and Uncovering Spiritual Narratives: Using Story in Pastoral Care and Minister.
Selected Narrative Writings
Books
Coyle, S. (2014). Uncovering Spiritual Narratives: Using Story in Pastoral Care and Ministry. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.
Coyle, S. (2013). Restorying Your Faith. Alresford, UK: Circle Books.
Book Chapters
Coyle, S. (2015). Many members, many stories: Moving from family systems to family narratives. In F. Kelcourse, and B. Lyon (Eds.), Transforming wisdom: Pastoral psychotherapy in theological perspective.
Coyle, S. (2013). Foucault: Postmodernism and the revolution of models of knowledge and power. In J. H.Ellens (Ed.), Winning revolutions: The psychology of successful revolt for freedom, fairness, and rights. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger Press.
Coyle, S. (2011). Responses of narrative practice to the effects of evil. In J. H. Ellens (Ed.), Explaining evil. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger Press.
Coyle, S. (2010). Spiritual narratives: Hope and healing through stories of faith. In J. H. Ellens (Ed.), Healing Power of Religion: How Faith Helps Humans Thrive. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger Press.
Coyle, S. (2007). The Bible, pastoral care, and conversational practices. In J. H. Ellens, (Ed.),Text and community: Essay in memory of Bruce Metzger. Sheffield, England: Sheffield Phoenix.
ARTICLES
Coyle, S. (2015). “Deepening the Call to Ministry through Narrative Spiritual Practice,”Reflective Practice: Supervision and Formation in Ministry.
Coyle, S. ( 2011). Appalachian narratives, cultural discourses, and theological witness. Encounter 72.1.
