Narrative Therapy
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Narrative Therapy *
Founders
✱ Born and raised in Australia
✱ Worked as a social worker
✱ Began a private practice to work as a family therapist
✱ Founded the Adelaide Narrative Therapy Centre
Michael White
✱ Born and raised in Canada
✱ Worked as a social worker
✱ Co-director of the Family Therapy Centre located in New Zealand
David Epston
Basic Principles:
✱ Establishing a therapeutic alliance and viewing clients as experts is essential
✱ Clients are encouraged to share their stories and therapists listen to various resources they possess
✱ Therapists do not pathologize or diagnose clients
A narrative is a story.
As humans, we have many stories about ourselves, others, our abilities, our self-esteem/Self-Image, and our
work, among many others.
Key Concepts
Stories shape identity: People “live” their lives through the stories they tell, which influence their perspectives.
Problem-saturated narratives: Clients often see themselves trapped in negative stories.
Externalization: Separating the problem from the person.
Re-authoring: Helping clients rewrite their stories to reflect empowerment and positive change.
Cultural discourse: Acknowledging the societal and cultural influences on personal stories.
Goals of Counseling
Role of Counselor
✱ Collaboration
✱ Empathy
✱ Nonjudgmental
✱Curious
✱ Facilitative
✱ Actively Engaged
To develop new stories and find new language that better serve interests, positive meanings, and contribute to well-being
✱Transform the effect of clients’ perceived problems
✱Create space between person and problem
✱Create more satisfying relationships with problems
✱Gain understanding into how dominant culture has impacted life
✱Gain a broader perspective and enhance options to create new stories