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Narrative Therapy

“Stories don’t mirror life, they shape it” (Nicholas & Schwartz, 2004, p 330).

I believe that language and our stories determine how we interact with the world. In my practice I find it important to clarify the meanings behind words and the values that these place on our lives and ourselves. I pull some components of narrative therapy into my work with clients as a way to further develop their identity and improve their relationship with themselves outside of society or others input. Through this we can identify those people or areas of life that support your desired self and those that detract from it. Below is some more information on the theory and development of Narrative Therapy:

Main idea: The main idea is that people develop their meaning of life through interpretive stories which are the “truth” to themselves. This can happen individually or with others, where it has greater power over our lives because it is part of the culture and society that we are developing and surviving in.

Goals of Therapy: Therapy is bringing about freedom to be who you are without the oppression of external problems and dominant stories of others. In narrative therapy this is done with questions that focus on exploring the client and their life, while separating their identity from the problem that they are presenting and externalizing this problem instead of internalizing it. Part of this is done by questioning and exploring times that the problem was not in control of their life, or when they dealt with the problem successfully even if for a short period. It is recounting and retelling these times that develop alternative narratives.

White and Epston: This technique started with Michael White and David Epston who began using narrative techniques in their therapy. They focused on the dominant cultural narratives and how these are integrated as truth in individuals and families even if they are negative or destructive. White in particular felt that the dominant culture controlled the narrative that benefits themselves by facilitating certain viewpoints and stories around their identities. These are normally focused on cisgendered and heterosexual men, while discriminating against diversity or others that are not part of this dominant identity.

Development of Problems: Narrative therapists believe that problems arise because people are indoctrinated into narrow and self-defeating views of themselves and the world. By externalizing the problem they help clients identify their struggles or actions against a problem rather than identifying the client as having a problem or being a problem.

Foucault: Much of narrative therapy’s ideas developed from Michael Foucault’s writings which described the dominant narratives being developed by those in power or with authority, and that these became internalized truths for all citizens of that society, such that these citizens came to judge their bodies, achievements, and personalities based on the standards set by society’s judges (doctors, educators, clergy, politicians, psychotherapists, celebrities).

Rejecting Normal: In understanding this, narrative therapists don’t just avoid judgements about what is normal, but reject the very idea of categorizing people. As these definitions and ideas have been used to perpetuate patterns of privilege and oppression due to judgements of those in power that subjugated those with no voice in the matter.