Narrative Therapy

What do you make out of…. A student is feeling a heart racing tension before an in-class presentation? A woman who goes from one relationship to another without taking any breaks? A man who doesn’t want to get out of bed to go to work? A teenager who doesn’t want to eat with fear of gaining weight?

Leading Figures Michael White David Epston Adelaide, Australia: Dulwich Center Was a mechanic The International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work David Epston New Zealand Focused on Anorexia/Bulimia Letter writing

What is narrative therapy? Perfect expression of social constructivism Truth is not discovered, it’s created A way of interpreting life and its meaning through the examination of: the stories about the life of the individual life experiences that continually shape our lives the decisions we make and the actions we take

Main principles Personal experience is fundamentally ambiguous The elements of experience are understood only through a process that organizes those elements, puts them together, assigns meaning, and prioritizes them Take interest in clients’ stories

Main Principles Construct truths in service of self- coherence Life stories function as filters that screen out experiences that don’t fit the plot line Use questions to make non-imposing, respectful approach to any new story put forth Never label people, treat them as human beings with unique stories Help people separate from the dominant cultural narratives they have internalized so to open space for alternatives

Normal Family Development What is normal anyways? Avoid DSM-IV Avoid rigid boundaries, cross-generational coalitions, enmeshment

4 main assumptions about people People have good intentions People are profoundly influenced by the discourses around them People are not their problems People can develop alternative, empowering stories once separated from their problems and from the cultural myths they have internalized

Why do problems occur? When stories lead people to construe their experiences in unhelpful ways. Problem saturated stories Narrative of exchanges between people Mom “needing to be the perfect mother” and the child “ being picked on” The more you focus on the child’s misbehavior, the more the child feels picked on. Husband “nagged on” Wife “not loved”

Why do problems occur? Rigid narratives make people feel destructive emotions “Alien invaders”

Why do problems occur? Toxic effects of cultural narratives Individualism, inequality of gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation etc. Anorexia Nervosa Codependent women

Goals of Therapy Not problem solving Help people separate themselves from problem saturated stories. Free people from oppression Empower them to rewrite their own narrative

Tools of Narrative Therapy Deconstruction and reconstruction Externalization Mapping the problem Reauthoring

Deconstruction Criticism, questioning assumptions Occurs throughout the therapeutic process Explores recruitment into the dominant story and problem Evaluates and justifies the DS “this might have served you well” Asks if the dominant story is the preferred way of living

Externalization Separates person from problem Having a problem vs. Being a problem Objectifies or personifies the problem Disempowers the problem Decreases guilt and blame Opens pathways for action Promotes cooperative effort

How to externalize? Empty chair technique Give the problem a persona The depression, the anorexia etc. Translate verbs to nouns When the depression takes over... Empower the client to address the problem How can you unite to fight “lack of communication”? Describe how the persona dictates the client/patient’s actions and feelings What does the addiction tell you to do?

Mapping the problem Understand the power of the dominant story Understand the meaning of the DS Understand the impact of the DS Expose what supports the DS Explore the experience of the DS

Who is in charge? You or the Problem? Relative Influence Questions How much has the Bulimia that’s taken over Jenny kept you from being the way you want to be with her? When Tantrums convince Joey to yell and scream, do you think your response gives Tantrums more or less fuel?

Reading between the lines of the problem story Look for “unique outcomes” – sparkling events (Q: Does this sound familiar?) How have you kept the problem from getting worse? Can you remember a time when Anger tried to take over but you didn’t let it? How did you do that? Have there been times when your daughter didn’t believe the lies Anorexia tells her about her body? When Jenny has withstood the tremendous pressure she feels from Alcoholism, have you appreciated the magnitude of that accomplishment?

Reauthoring Finds the contradictions to the DS Finds the exceptions to the DS and the problem Open room for counterplots Challenge totalizing views

Reauthoring Landscape of action - What did you do that was different that time? Landscape of consciousness - What do those experiences tell you about yourself? Use supportive others to discover the true person - Encourage others to join in the process of supporting the alternative story

Thickening the new story Finding witnesses and an audience for the new story Who would be most surprised to hear you say this? Who else would know what you stand for? Writing letters From therapist to client and vice versa From client to client Give certificates