Narrative Therapy: 5 Narrative Therapy Techniques

Narrative therapy, also known as narrative practice, is an empowering form of psychotherapy that encourages people to talk to therapists about issues and life stories as narratives. Narrative therapy techniques strive to externalize and separate matters from the client’s identity.
By externalizing problems through narrative approaches, clients enter into a collaborative process with a narrative therapist to deconstruct the issues in their life and see them as changeable instead of inherent to their personhood.

New Zealander psychotherapist David Epston and Australian therapist and social worker Michael White developed this form of therapy in the 1980s. The Dulwich Centre in Adelaide, a training center founded by White, is a narrative practice.

Standard techniques and tools that mental health professionals might use in narrative therapy sessions include:

1. 1. Alternate outcomes: Narrative therapy aims to help clients reframe and rewrite their own story. When clients can shift viewpoints or perspectives, they can construct different stories to measure them against the other and compare for insights. Since this type of therapy is a positive psychology practice, the goal is not only to build the skill of creating new storylines but also to find the most helpful of the client’s unique outcomes.
2. 2. Building narratives: Also known as re-authoring or re-storying, building narratives involves reiterating life experiences into stories. In this approach, clients tell their own life stories to a therapist numerous times from various angles and perspectives. Then, the client can observe each alternative story externally. Narrative therapy helps separate the story from the storyteller, who can see their interpretation of their lives as being dynamic.
3. 3. Deconstruction: The patterns and conflicts inherent to stories can make a dominant story seem overwhelming. Therapists can use deconstruction techniques to help clients reduce the scope and scale of issues and identify the root cause. These kinds of interventions can take large-scale problems and allow clients to view them as manageable. Deconstruction is often part of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) practices.
4. 4. Existentialism: Existentialism involves letting go of the assumption of inherent meanings. Finding a sense of purpose is essential for mental health, but some people cling to purpose and meaning from a singular story. Narrative therapy shows clients they can create meaning and purpose for themselves.
5. 5. Externalization: Narrative therapy encourages clients to externalize problematic stories from their identity. Externalization might involve practicing positive self-talk and analyzing personal traits in stories. Observing separate storylines that involve a particular trait can help distinguish it from an inextricable part of one’s identity.

Narrative therapy can be a helpful modality for family therapy and couples therapy. Therapists also use narrative techniques to help treat patients with general anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.

Advantages of engaging in narrative therapy

1. 1. Displaces any blame: The narrative therapeutic process encourages clients to relinquish self-blame and avoid blaming others when telling their own story. The non-blaming approach focuses instead on situational factors.
2. 2. Fosters respect: This therapy encourages clients to be themselves and separates problems from their identity. This respectful approach to treatment enables clients to understand from their admission that their issues don’t define them.
3. 3. Gives clients agency: Narrative therapy can help clients develop a strong sense of personal agency, courage, and power.

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