Narrative Therapy
What is Narrative Therapy?
Narrative therapy can be used to understand the stories of our lives. The events, linked in sequence across time can be a way of telling and retelling our stories. A method of making meaning to our life stories is through well-worn tracks across certain parts of life and leaving other elements out. We have stories about ourselves, skills, abilities, life lessons, relationships, grief, challenges, achievements, and failures.
The well-worn tracks can be events of significance. These may be more dominant than the less significant. These not selected parts may be equally or even more important. The dominant story may influence the meaning making of past or future events.
Our stories can shape our lives:
- through the decisions we make
- what we may be able to do
- and what we may struggle with.
Incorporating alternative stories into our narrative opens the possibility of thickening our stories. As a result, we can expand our awareness and acceptance of what may have been denied or avoided.
Loss and Grief
The dominant and alternative story is relevant to loss and grief counselling. For instance, the bereaved are often left with intense guilt because they did not do enough to prevent death. At times, these feelings act as roadblocks preventing normal grieving. As a result, the bereaved become stuck in their grief. Many counselling interventions in Narrative Therapy fit very well with work on loss and grief.
Clutter and Hoarding
If you feel overcommitted, disorganised or have hoarding tendencies, narrative therapy can be a way to work with clutter and hoarding. Narrative therapy is a respectful and non-blaming form of counselling. It acknowledges the person as the expert in their own life. The person is not the problem. The problem is the problem.
