✍️ NARRATIVE THERAPY

Key Concepts, Core Techniques, Exam-Style Language, Exam-Style Scenarios, Comparisons, Memorization Anchors

Narrative Therapy

A postmodern approach that views problems as separate from people and emphasizes rewriting personal stories.

Founders

Michael White and David Epston.

Core Assumption

Problems are socially constructed through language and stories.

View of Problems

The problem is the problem; the person is not the problem.

Therapy Goal

Help clients re-author preferred life stories.

Focus of Therapy

Meaning, language, and personal narratives.

Therapy Style

Collaborative, curious, and non-pathologizing.

Time Orientation

Past, present, and future through storytelling.

Social Constructionism

Reality is shaped by language and social interaction.

Dominant Story

Problem-saturated narrative limiting identity.

Alternative Story

Preferred narrative highlighting strengths and values.

Deconstruction

Breaking down oppressive beliefs and assumptions.

Externalization

Separating the problem from the person.

Unique Outcomes

Exceptions that contradict the dominant story.

Re-Authoring

Creating new meaning and identity.

Power & Discourse

Examines how culture and systems shape problems.

Externalizing Conversations

Naming the problem as separate from the client.

Mapping the Influence

Exploring how the problem affects life and relationships.

Mapping the Influence of the Person

Exploring how client affects the problem.

Identifying Unique Outcomes

Finding times the problem had less power.

Thickening the Story

Adding detail to preferred narratives.

Letter Writing

Therapeutic letters reinforcing new narratives.

Re-Membering

Reconnecting clients with supportive relationships.

Definitional Ceremonies

Witnessing and validating new stories.

Externalizing Language

“When anxiety shows up, what does it tell you?”

Non-Pathologizing

Avoids diagnosis-centered identity.

Collaborative Stance

Therapist as co-author, not expert.

Curiosity

Therapist asks exploratory questions.

Strength-Based

Highlights resilience and values.

Scenario: “Therapist refers to depression as separate from client.”

Externalization.

Scenario: “Therapist explores cultural messages shaping beliefs.”

Deconstruction.

Scenario: “Therapist highlights exception to problem story.”

Unique outcome.

Scenario: “Therapist helps client rewrite identity.”

Re-authoring.

Scenario: “Therapist avoids diagnosis-focused labels.”

Narrative stance.

Scenario: “Therapist uses letter summarizing progress.”

Narrative intervention.

Scenario: “Therapist invites others to witness change.”

Definitional ceremony.

Narrative vs. SFBT

Narrative changes identity stories; SFBT builds solutions.

Narrative vs. CBT

Narrative focuses on meaning; CBT focuses on cognition.

Narrative vs. EFT

Narrative emphasizes language; EFT emphasizes emotion.

Narrative vs. Structural

Narrative avoids hierarchy and restructuring.

Person ≠ Problem

Separate identity from issue.

Story = Reality

Language shapes experience.

Externalize = Name It

Give the problem a name.

Unique = Exception

Find cracks in the story.

Re-author = Rewrite

Build new identity.