Narrative Therapy: A Comprehensive Overview
Introduction
Narrative Therapy is a collaborative and non-pathologizing form of psychotherapy that views
individuals as the authors of their own lives. It was developed in the 1980s by Michael White
(Australia) and David Epston (New Zealand). Central to narrative therapy is the idea that
people construct the meaning of their lives through stories, and that problems are not
inherent within individuals but are shaped by cultural, social, and relational narratives.
This therapy seeks to externalize problems, identify dominant narratives, and help
individuals re-author their lives by discovering alternative, empowering stories. It aligns with
postmodern and social constructionist thought, challenging the traditional medical model that
centers on diagnosing and fixing problems within people.
---
Philosophical Foundations
1. Social Constructionism
Narrative therapy draws from social constructionism, which asserts that reality is constructed
through language and social interaction. According to this perspective, what we accept as
"truth" is shaped by cultural norms, language, and shared beliefs—not by any absolute
objective reality.
2. Post-structuralism and Michel Foucault
Post-structuralist thinkers like Michel Foucault influenced narrative therapy by highlighting
how power and knowledge are intertwined. Foucault argued that dominant discourses (e.g.,
about mental health, gender, success) shape how people think about themselves. Narrative
therapy aims to help individuals resist these dominant discourses by constructing alternative
narratives.
---
Core Assumptions of Narrative Therapy
1. The person is not the problem; the problem is the problem.
Problems are seen as separate from the person. This process, called externalization, helps
reduce shame and self-blame.
2. People make meaning through stories.
Our identities are shaped by stories we tell ourselves and others. Some stories become
dominant and shape our lives, while others—often more positive—remain in the background.
3. Multiple stories exist.
People are multi-storied. Narrative therapy helps uncover subjugated or alternative
narratives that have been ignored or overshadowed by dominant ones.
4. Language constructs reality.
How we describe ourselves and our experiences shapes our perception and emotional
responses. Therefore, language is both therapeutic and transformative.
5. Clients are experts of their own lives.
Narrative therapists believe in a collaborative approach, viewing the client as the primary
expert on their life, with the therapist as a guide.
---
Key Concepts in Narrative Therapy
1. Externalization
This involves separating the person from the problem. For example, instead of saying, “I am
depressed,” the person might say, “Depression is affecting my life.” This shift in language
reduces self-blame and opens space for change.
Example: A child may refer to their anger as “The Volcano,” giving it a name and identity
separate from themselves.
2. Dominant and Alternative Stories
Dominant story: The problem-saturated narrative that has come to define a person’s identity
(e.g., “I am a failure,” “I am not lovable”).
Alternative story: A hidden or neglected narrative that shows strength, resilience, or hope
(e.g., “I am someone who survived hardship,” “I care deeply about others”).
The goal is to help individuals re-author their lives using alternative stories that align with
their values and preferred identities.
3. Deconstruction
This technique involves challenging taken-for-granted beliefs and breaking down dominant
discourses. Deconstruction reveals how cultural, societal, or familial messages have shaped
a person’s self-understanding.
Example: A woman who believes she must always be agreeable to be “a good wife” may
explore how gender roles influenced this belief.
4. Re-authoring
This is the process of creating new, preferred stories about the self. Clients are supported in
identifying their values, hopes, and commitments and weaving them into a narrative that
reflects who they wish to be.
5. Unique Outcomes
Also called “sparkling moments,” these are instances that contradict the dominant
problem-saturated story. Identifying such moments can lead to powerful insights and
openings for change.
Example: A person who believes they’re always anxious may recall a time they felt calm and
confident in a challenging situation.
---
Structure of Narrative Therapy Sessions
1. Listening to the Problem-Saturated Story
The therapist invites the client to tell their current story, with attention to metaphors, labels,
and influences.
2. Externalizing the Problem
Using language that detaches the person from the issue. Instead of “You are depressed,” the
therapist might say, “When did Depression first appear in your life?”
3. Mapping the Influence
This includes:
How the problem has affected the person’s life (problem’s impact).
How the person has affected the problem (resistance and coping strategies).
4. Uncovering Unique Outcomes
Therapists listen for exceptions to the dominant story and amplify these moments to create a
new, empowering narrative.
5. Re-authoring Conversations
The therapist collaborates with the client to rewrite their story in a way that reflects their
values, strengths, and hopes.
6. Outsider Witness Practices (Optional)
Involves including trusted outsiders (friends, family, community members) to reflect on the
client’s story, helping reinforce the new narrative.
---
Applications of Narrative Therapy
1. Children and Adolescents
Narrative therapy is especially effective with young clients due to its imaginative and
story-based approach. Naming problems (like “Worry Monster” or “Anger Dragon”) helps
children externalize and work through their struggles.
2. Trauma Survivors
Narrative therapy allows trauma survivors to reclaim their voice and identity, shifting from a
victim narrative to a survivor or thriver narrative.
3. Couples and Families
By focusing on shared stories and examining how each person’s narrative interacts,
therapists can improve understanding and relationship dynamics.
4. Marginalized Populations
Because narrative therapy resists pathologizing and emphasizes empowerment, it has been
effective with LGBTQ+ individuals, refugees, and people from culturally diverse
backgrounds.
---
Strengths of Narrative Therapy
Empowering: Emphasizes client agency and strengths.
Non-pathologizing: Avoids diagnostic labels and medical models.
Culturally sensitive: Values personal stories shaped by cultural contexts.
Flexible: Can be integrated with other approaches (e.g., art therapy, family therapy).
---
Criticisms of Narrative Therapy
Lack of empirical research: Critics argue that narrative therapy lacks robust quantitative
validation compared to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
Too abstract for some clients: Some individuals may struggle with metaphorical or
story-based thinking.
May overlook biological factors: Narrative therapy does not directly address neurobiological
or pharmacological aspects of mental health.
---
Conclusion
Narrative therapy offers a powerful alternative to traditional psychological approaches by
focusing on meaning-making, storytelling, and identity reconstruction. Its strength lies in
honoring individuals’ lived experiences, promoting resilience, and supporting the creation of
preferred life narratives. By shifting the focus from pathology to possibility, narrative therapy
helps people reclaim their voices, rewrite their stories, and reimagine their futures.
---
References (APA 7 Style)
White, M., & Epston, D. (1990). Narrative means to therapeutic ends. Norton.
Morgan, A. (2000). What is narrative therapy? An easy-to-read introduction. Dulwich Centre
Publications.
Freedman, J., & Combs, G. (1996). Narrative therapy: The social construction of preferred
realities. Norton.
Monk, G., Winslade, J., Crocket, K., & Epston, D. (1997). Narrative therapy in practice: The
archaeology of hope. Jossey-Bass.
