Narrative Therapy
Uploaded by natalie227 on Nov 18, 2008
Narrative Therapy is an approach to counseling that centers people as the experts in their own lives. This therapy intends to view problems as separate entities to people, assuming that the individual’s set of skills, experience and mindset will assist him/her reduce the influence of problems throughout life. This therapeutic approach intends to place the individual in both the leading role and author roles: switching the view from a narrow perspective to a systemic and more flexible stance. The aim is to help clients realize what forces are influencing their lives and to focus on the positive aspects of the ‘play’. In many events of our lives, we tend to focus on particular things and ignore others. Analyzing our lives as a play, or a system, helps us understand the different forces and roles that are influencing our behavior. This in turn gives us flexibility to invoke the necessary changes for improvement.
It is a highly respectful, effective, non-blaming approach. It theorizes that people organize their lives into stories, and that individual are not the “problem” the problem is the problem. It views people as having many skills, beliefs, and abilities that will help them reduce the influence of problems in their lives. The focus is not on the ‘experts’ solving problems, it is the individual discovering through conversations of their hidden possibilities within themselves.
Narrative therapy was originally developed during the 1970’s and 1980’s, but became prevalent in North America during the 1990’s. The founders are Michael White a Psychotherapist and David Epston a S.S.W professor. Michael was a social worker, family therapist, author and co-director of the Dulwich Centre in Adelaide, South Australia. He’s known for his work with children, schizophrenia, anorexia/bulimia, men’s violence, trauma, as well as the Indigenous Aboriginal communities. David Epston is an author, co-author and editor of many articles and books on ‘Narrative Therapy’. He is a professor in the Social Work field, and the co-director of the Family Therapy article page Centre in Auckland New Zealand. He worked closely with Michael White on developing Narrative Therapy approach by integrating different forms of therapy together.
The Basic concepts of narrative therapy is to enable people to tell their stories in ways that make them stronger and Enables people who are experiencing hardship to make a contribution to others who are also experiencing hard times. It Encourages individuals, couples, and families to more fully explore other possible...