Everything You Need to Know About Narrative Therapy

We all have a story to tell. Our lives are filled with experiences, both good and bad. How we tell our story can affect how we feel about ourselves and how others see us. If a young person is struggling with a mental health issue, narrative therapy may be the right treatment for them. In this blog post, I will explore what narrative therapy is, how it works, and who can benefit from it. I will also look at some examples of how this type of therapy can be used to help people resolve their issues.

What is Narrative Therapy?

Narrative therapy has its roots in the work of Michael White and David Epston. In the early 1980s, they began developing a unique approach to counseling that emphasised the importance of stories in shaping our lives. It is based on the idea that our lives are shaped by the stories we tell about ourselves and that we can change our lives by changing these stories. These stories can be positive or negative, but they all help to shape our view of who we are and the world around us. By exploring these stories, we can gain insight into our lives and learn how to make changes that will improve our mental health.

Narrative therapy has its roots in social constructionism, which is the belief that our reality is created by the stories we tell ourselves and the language we use to communicate these stories. This means that narrative therapy focuses on the ways that our language and stories construct our reality, rather than on trying to change our behavior or thoughts. Narrative therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on helping people understand and change the stories they tell about themselves. Narrative therapy techniques involve helping clients tell their story in a new way that can lead to positive change. This may involve exploring the past to understand how it has influenced the present, or looking at the present from a different perspective.

How does Narrative Therapy Work?

Narrative therapy is usually provided by a trained counselor or therapist. Sessions typically last for 60 minutes, but may be longer or shorter depending on the needs of the client. There are a few different techniques that narrative therapists may use. One is called “externalization.” This involves helping the client to see their problem as separate from themselves. This can be done by giving the problem a name, such as “my depression” or “my anxiety.” Externalization can help the client to see their problem as something that they can manage and eventually overcome.

Another technique that may be used is called “re-authoring.” This involves helping the client to change the story that they tell about themselves. For example, a client may have a story that they are a failure. By exploring this story and looking at evidence that contradicts it, the client can begin to see themselves in a new and more positive light. Narrative therapy is a collaborative process in which the therapist and client work together to create a new, more empowering story for the client. The therapist helps the client to identify and examine the stories they tell about themselves, and to understand how these stories are affecting their lives. Together, they work to create a new story that is more accurate and empowering.

What are The Benefits of Narrative Therapy?

Narrative therapy can be an effective treatment for a variety of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and trauma. It can also help people who are struggling with life transitions, relationship problems or major life changes.

There are many benefits of narrative therapy, for example narrative therapy can help you:

• To understand yourself and your situation in a new way

• Develop a stronger sense of identity

• Find meaning in your experiences

• Feel more empowered to make changes in your life

The Five Stages of Narrative Therapy

Stage one: Externalization

In this stage, the therapist helps the client to see their problem as separate from themselves. This can be done by asking questions about the problem, and helping the client to tell their story in a different way.

Stage two: Discovery

In this stage, the therapist helps the client to understand how their problem has affected their life. This can be done by exploring the client's past and present experiences, and how they have been affected by the problem. This narrative story map resource is a great tool to support this stage - Narrative Story Map.

Stage three: Pre-story

In this stage, the therapist helps the client to understand what their life would be like without the problem. This can be done by exploring the client's hopes and dreams, and helping them to imagine a life without the problem.

Stage four: Re-authoring

In this stage, the therapist helps the client to change their story. This can be done by exploring different ways of thinking and behaving, and helping the client to choose a new way of living. This resource is staple in the narrative therapy world - Narrative Tree of Life.

Stage five: Consolidation

In this stage, the therapist helps the client to solidify the changes they have made. This can be done by exploring the client's progress, and helping them to plan for the future. The narrative road map is a very common tool used in the final stage of the narrative therapy process - Narrative Road Map

For a young person or teen who may be struggling with a problem, and feel like they are stuck in a negative story, narrative therapy may be able to help them. If you are interested in exploring narrative therapy for a young person or teen, then it is important to find a therapist who is trained in this approach. Narrative therapy is not widely practiced, so it may be difficult to find a therapist who specialises in this type of therapy. However, there are many online resources that can help you find a narrative therapist in your area.

One of the things I love about narrative therapy is that it offers hope. No matter how stuck we feel in our problems, we can always choose to change our stories and create a new future. If you know a teen struggling, I encourage you to support them in giving narrative therapy a try. Remember, we are the authors of our own story. We have the power to change it. And with narrative therapy, we can.

Have you tried narrative therapy yourself in the past? What do you know about it? I would love to hear from you! If you have any questions about narrative therapy, or are looking for a particular resource then please reach out, I am here to help. 😊

Ps. Here is the link to all of my printable, narrative therapy resources Narrative Therapy.

Rosie 🌹

Narrative Therapy Resources Available