NARRATIVE THERAPY

Presentor: Sr. Jennifer R. Cuerdo, OP

Brief IntroductionTherapeutic GoalsTherapeutic RelationshipTherapeutic Techniques & Procedures

R E P O R T C O N T E N T

Brief Introduction Narrative therapy was developed by Michael

White and David Epston

Brief Introduction

It holds the belief that a person’s identity is formed by our experiences or narratives.

Because the problem is seen as a separate entity from the person, a therapist can help a client externalize sensitive issues

Therapeutic Goals A general goal of narrative therapy is to invite

people to describe their experience in new and fresh language. In doing this, they open up vistas of what is possible.

At the core is the belief that the problem is separate and distinctly apart from the person. A problem does not define a person. A problem is something that a person has, not something that a person is.

Therapeutic Relationship Characterized by collaboration, compassion,

reflection, and discovery

The therapist uses authority, however, he or she treats clients as experts in their own lives

As a facilitator and an investigator, the therapist poses questions that challenge prior conceptions and reveal maladaptive behaviors

A client is given the opportunity to edit and rewrite the remainder of their story

Therapeutic Techniques & Procedures

Asking Questions use questions as a way to

generate experience rather than to gather information

ask questions from a not-knowing position, meaning that they do not pose questions that they think they already know the answers to.

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Therapeutic Techniques & Procedures

Problem Saturated Description & Naming the Problem

therapists provide clients with an opportunity to explore various dimensions of their life situations

therapist is interested in finding out how the problems first became evident, and how they have affected clients’ views of themselves (Monk, 1997)

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AHA!!!

Therapeutic Techniques & Procedures

Externalize the Problem (Using Relative Influencing Questions)

client will see that the problem can be separated from their identity or sense of self

Externalization technique encourages clients to add a preposition to the characteristic or behavior that they would like to change

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AHA!!!

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Therapeutic Techniques & Procedures

Deconstruct the Problem

method is used to make the issue specific and manageable, it is difficult to solve problems when those problems are over generalized

Deconstruction technique helps us to understand what the problem means to the client

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AHA!!!

MEProb

Therapeutic Techniques & Procedures

Unique Outcomes (Changing the Dominant Negative Storyline)

therapist will help clients to focus on life stories which are contrary to the problem-saturated narrative

To ‘rewrite self defeating narratives’ means that clients will begin to allow positive story-lines into their life

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ME

PositiveStoryline

Therapeutic Techniques & Procedures

Reflection

Reflecting upon our life increases our reflective ability

Narrative therapy is a mindfulness tool which enables you to be free to live in the moment… and free to live within the story-lines that you reflect upon

Thank you!!!

ReferencesGerald Corey, Counselling and Psychotherapy (Theory and

Practice), Cengage Learning, 2013Alice Morgan, What is Narrative Therapy? An Easy-to-Read

Introduction, The Narrative Therapy Library and Bookshophttp://www.goodtherapy.org/Narrative_Therapy.htmlhttp://www.dulwichcentre.com.au/what-is-narrative-

therapy.htmlhttp://www.thoughtsfromatherapist.com/2011/05/16/

narrative-therapy-summary/http://www.google.comhttp://www.youtube.com