Narrative therapy focuses on understanding and reshaping the stories you tell about yourself and your life. It views problems as separate from you as an individual and emphasizes the power of storytelling in shaping your identity and experiences.
Narrative therapy helps by externalizing problems, exploring alternative narratives, and creating empowering stories that reflect your own unique strengths and values. One of the best examples of how it helps is when you consider someone who may be struggling with low self-esteem. Narrative therapy challenges negative self-perceptions and develops a more positive and empowering self-narrative.
A narrative therapy session begins with collaboration between you and your therapist where we explore the stories you have about yourself, your relationships and your experiences. We’ll then ask questions that invite you to reflect on the meanings that you attach to your experiences and how these narratives impact your life. Together, we work to identify alternative perspectives, exceptions to the problem narrative, and moments of resilience or strength. The goal is to co-create new, more empowering narratives that align with your inviduals values and goals. Throughout this process of storytelling and meaningful dialogue, we provide support, validation, and guidance.
“It takes courage… to endure the sharp pains of self-discovery rather than choose to take the dull pain of unconsciousness that would last the rest of our lives.”
Marianne Williamson
