Narrative therapy is an empowering approach to change your story.
Narrative therapy investigates life experiences through a neutral and non-judgemental lens to reframe harmful stories into ones of growth.
What is Narrative Therapy?
Narrative therapy is a relative newcomer in the world of psychology, and it brings a novel approach to talk therapy. Instead of focusing on self-awareness and behaviour change like many other types of therapy, narrative therapy offers a way for clients to minimize their problems and feel less burdened by them.
The goal is not to change the client, but rather to change their stories. Past life experiences become personal stories, and these stories are indicative of how people interpret events and make meaning from them. Problems can arise when personal narratives cause distress, and this may stem from misunderstandings, misinterpretations, or absorbing narratives from other people.
Narrative therapy aims to reclaim personal stories and reframe them in a way that reflects understanding, non-judgement, and self-expertise. It’s a collaborative approach where both the therapist and client examine stories and gently uncover helpful assumptions and beliefs
How Does Narrative Therapy Work?
The client-therapist relationship in narrative therapy is not quite the same as for most other types of therapy. The client is positioned as the expert of their own life who’s already well-equipped with the skills and knowledge to overcome their struggles. The therapist is a curious outsider who will gently encourage and guide their client to piece together their own stories and help them re-examine the problematic areas.
One of the most important steps in this process is practicing externalization. This means talking about problems objectively and separated from the client. An example of this would be talking about times when “anxiety” has shown up instead of labelling the client as anxious and perhaps diagnosing them with an anxiety disorder.
Narrative therapy practitioners will also utilize deconstruction. This is where long-held beliefs and generalized statements are broken down to find more clarity and truth. Doing this opens up opportunities to alter painful stories that once felt unquestionable.
The end goal is to slowly come to terms with experiences or interactions that feel overwhelming. This is done in a piece-by-piece manner where each small component is reframed or orientated in a way that brings positive meaning and the opportunity for growth.
Is Narrative Therapy Right For Me?
Since narrative therapy is a newer method than most other types of therapy, it doesn’t yet have as much substantial evidence of its efficacy. That being said, some promising studies have shown narrative therapy can potentially be effective at reducing negative symptoms of depression, anxiety, attachment issues, eating disorders, grief, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
One of the most beneficial aspects of narrative therapy is that it doesn’t place blame on clients by labelling them as “broken” or “problematic”. Instead, it helps them externalize their issues so they can mindfully choose how to react based on their own personal values. This strategy prioritizes dignity and self-determination.
Overall, narrative therapy appears to be a good option for anyone who doesn’t know where to begin with struggles but wants to remain in the driver’s seat of their healing journey.
How Can Narrative Therapy Help?
Narrative therapy has the potential to change lives without needing to change anything about a person. Simply re-orienting stories and filtering out harmful thoughts can be enough to make what once seemed like insurmountable issues completely manageable.
The narrative therapy model proposes that many mental health symptoms originate from unhealthy or negative narratives, so redirecting these alone can result in major changes to overall mental wellbeing.
Narrative therapy theory also states that people are the authorities of their own lives, and this gives them the power to make their own beliefs about themselves and disregard the damaging opinions of others.
This forms the groundwork that enables clients to be self-determined, hopeful, and inclined to think positively about themselves. These factors make narrative therapy a worthwhile strategy for individuals struggling to find peace with their past.
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Our online sessions help you reframe your stories, filter out harmful thoughts, and manage what once seemed insurmountable. By redirecting negative narratives, you can achieve major improvements in your mental well-being. Schedule a consultation today to start your journey towards self-determination, hope, and a positive self-view.