Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I’ve been
And how I got to where I am”
– Brandi Carlile
What is Narrative Therapy?
The conversations between you and me are interactive and collaborative. I strive to understand what is important to you and how the therapeutic journey is suiting your preferences. For example, I might ask questions like these:
- How is this conversation going for you?
- Is this what we should spend our time talking about, or is it more important to discuss [another identified topic]?
In this way, narrative conversations are guided and directed by your interests and priorities.
Stories
Multistoried Lives
I might have a story about myself in which I am successful and competent. Or I might have a story that tells a tail of being “a failure at trying new things” or “a coward” or as “lacking determination.” My family might have stories about itself as being “caring” or “noisy” or “dysfunctional” or “close.” All these stories likely are occurring at the same time; and as events occur, they will be interpreted according to the meaning (plot) that is dominant at that time.
We are constantly interpreting our experiences. Whether our stories are happy, sad, interesting, boring, uplifting, depressing, etc. is determined by how we have linked certain events together and by the meaning that we have ascribed to those events. Our stories actually shape reality in that they construct and constitute what we see, hear, feel, and do.
In narrative therapy, conversations are about re-authoring or re-storying client’s stories in such a way that strengths and successes are identified (what narrative therapy calls “sparkling moments”) and increasingly take on the lead roles. This is the re-authoring of an alternative story—a story that is an alternative to the often problem-saturated, dominant story.