Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy is a treatment approach to trauma or PTSD. It is used with those clients who are dealing with multiple traumas or scenarios that are complex. This also includes political, cultural and social influences. This is a type of therapy that helps people to become an expert in their own lives. As you experience events and interactions you give meaning to them and you check how that influences yourself and the world. A person can have multiple stories related to their self-esteem, relationship, work and home.
Narrative therapy was developed by Michael White and David Epston. This therapy has an empowering effect and offers counseling that is non-blaming and non-pathological in nature.
There are a variety of techniques and exercises that are used in narrative therapy in order to heal people and move ahead with their past. Some of the techniques include:
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Putting together the narrative: in narrative therapy the therapist put together their therapist. This process allows the client to find their voice and be themselves. This helps meaning to the things happening around them. The therapist allows them to identify the dominant problematic story.
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Externalization: this puts the story of the lives of people and allows them to observe themselves. This creates distance between the individual and their problems.
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Deconstruction: this is used to help people gain clarity about their stories. When a problematic story arises people tend to get confused in their own stories only here the therapist works with the client to break down their stories into smaller parts and make sense out of it.
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Concrete outcomes: when a story feels concrete as if it can never be changed an alternative story arises. People can be really attached to their stories and this can affect their lifestyle impacting decision making and experiences.
This approach can be used with people who are overwhelmed and have negative thoughts or emotions. This therapy is also good in dealing with anxiety, depression and stress. Narrative therapy does not give people their voices but helps them to find their voices. This can help the clients to become experts in their own lives.
A WORD FROM SOCIALLY SOULED
People who opt for narurative therapy are treated with respect for the bravery it takes to come forward and work through the personal challenges. The client can stop the blaming game and can finally accept who he actually is.