Narrative therapy
A narrative is a story comprised of a collection of events. Every person has a story; for some, it’s essentially positive sprinkled with negative events throughout. But for others, the negative elements or problems are front and centre, overshadowing anything positive. Many people go through life defining themselves by their problems. This often makes them feel stuck, hopeless, fearful, or empty.
For example, individuals who’ve struggled with anxiety for many years often describe themselves as “an anxious person.” The more that becomes their “story,” the more they see themselves as fearful and incapable of handling challenges. Similarly, those whose stories centre around past mistakes or failures regard themselves as “losers” …show more content…
This shift in perspective from more traditional forms of therapy can be especially empowering for individuals who seek treatment. It’s not uncommon for therapy clients to regard themselves – at least to some degree – as weak, inferior, or even damaged because of their depression, anxiety, relationship struggles, unresolved grief, or whatever disorder or challenge that caused them to seek professional help in the first place. Narrative therapists work in collaboration with clients to help them achieve their therapeutic goals in a respectful, non-judgmental, and non-blaming …show more content…
Rather than adhering to more traditional approaches to psychotherapy that pathologized people’s problems and / or viewed them as buried in the unconscious mind, White and Epston developed a different approach based on the power of language and stories.
They recognized the powerful role that people’s personal stories – their “narratives” – played in their individual lives. People came into therapy with a story that was “problem saturated.” The presenting problem (e.g. depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, grief, or being a victim) not only dominated their life; it also often defined them. White and Epston focused on helping their clients make positive changes and improve their lives by having them essentially rewrite their own stories.
Narrative Therapy Techniques
Following are some of the techniques often used in narrative
A narrative is a story comprised of a collection of events. Every person has a story; for some, it’s essentially positive sprinkled with negative events throughout. But for others, the negative elements or problems are front and centre, overshadowing anything positive. Many people go through life defining themselves by their problems. This often makes them feel stuck, hopeless, fearful, or empty.
For example, individuals who’ve struggled with anxiety for many years often describe themselves as “an anxious person.” The more that becomes their “story,” the more they see themselves as fearful and incapable of handling challenges. Similarly, those whose stories centre around past mistakes or failures regard themselves as “losers” …show more content…
This shift in perspective from more traditional forms of therapy can be especially empowering for individuals who seek treatment. It’s not uncommon for therapy clients to regard themselves – at least to some degree – as weak, inferior, or even damaged because of their depression, anxiety, relationship struggles, unresolved grief, or whatever disorder or challenge that caused them to seek professional help in the first place. Narrative therapists work in collaboration with clients to help them achieve their therapeutic goals in a respectful, non-judgmental, and non-blaming …show more content…
Rather than adhering to more traditional approaches to psychotherapy that pathologized people’s problems and / or viewed them as buried in the unconscious mind, White and Epston developed a different approach based on the power of language and stories.
They recognized the powerful role that people’s personal stories – their “narratives” – played in their individual lives. People came into therapy with a story that was “problem saturated.” The presenting problem (e.g. depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, grief, or being a victim) not only dominated their life; it also often defined them. White and Epston focused on helping their clients make positive changes and improve their lives by having them essentially rewrite their own stories.
Narrative Therapy Techniques
Following are some of the techniques often used in narrative