Experiential Vs Narrative Therapy

Self-of-therapist is a term that had no meaning to me two years ago, and now it is the center point of my world. The model that guides my style of therapy and helps me conceptualize cases is something that I have contemplated multiple times since entering my first practicum. While studying family systems theories over the past four semesters, I discovered that while all methods demonstrate validity and success, some models speak more thoroughly to my therapeutic style. The methods that guide my style the most are Experiential and Narrative Therapy. These models integrate well because they focus on the client’s strengths and not the pathology of the problem. In experiential the problem is because of emotion suppression and communication. …show more content…
Once an alternative story is introduced by the thought of a unique outcome, these questions allow for the exploration of a different role in the story. These questions, encourage individuals to explore the problem with a different perspective. The individual is invited to ponder on their own identity and the identities of others in the system. The therapist will dance between landscape of action and landscape of identity questions to solidify the new narrative being co-authored. Examples of landscape of identity questions …show more content…
Narrative interventions are done through a series of questions. These questions are structured in the following way: externalizing conversations, relative influence questions, reauthoring, reinforcing the new story, and deconstructing destructive cultural assumptions. The series of questions develop the deconstructing of the old narrative and then help de-personify the problems. Then the therapist investigates the zones that the family was able to resist the problem so that they gain self-awareness that they have influence over the problem. After that, the therapist uses the questions to identify the unique outcomes so that a new narrative can begin to form. The therapist also enlists the use of “leagues”, support groups of people with similar problems to help resist the problem and reinforce the new narrative. During this time, the cultural assumptions are explored and identified. Then the narrative is reconstructed into a more empowered story for the client. A therapist can write letters to their clients to move the therapeutic conversation outside the therapy walls. The letters reinforce the commitment the client has made to change the narrative of their lives. Another form of interventions they use is encouraging clients to contact people from their past and present that can authenticate the new