Narrative Therapy Flashcards
Narrative Metaphor
This describes the primary tool people use to make sense of their lived experiences—that is, story and narrative as a metaphor
Story = metaphor
Constitutionalist Self
The view of self is plastic and continuously deconstructed and reconstructed through interactions. sense of self derives from experiences that fit into the dominant narrative. Idea is to co-construct a new self that is more congruent with the clients preferred outcome. (I know myself from the stories I adopt)
Problem Saturated Stories
A limited and oppressive narrative in a person’s life. The Thp will help deconstruct these stories to find exceptions during the process of locating the prefferred/alternate story
When clients identify with a narrative that emphasizes a metaphoric problem throughout time, thereby influencing their perception of the past as well as their experience of the present and future. These are traditionally externally influenced and repress the subjugated story more congruent with the authentic reality of the individual.
Subjugated Story
The more positive, authentic, and congruent attributes of an individual that are vulnerably to suppression through a problem-saturated or dominant cultural discourse. The subjugated story typically entails times in which the problem did not have power over the individual, or times that the individual was able to take control of the problem
Preferred Narrative
The alternate more positive narrative the client wishes to have. This story is co constructed with the Thp to define what the Clt would like the dominant story to be at the end.
Deconstruction Questions
Questions used to explore meaning by taking apart and examining taken-for-granted categories and assumptions which makes possible newer constructions of meaning
Externalizing the Problem
A technieque that helps clients personify the and seperate the problem from self
Externalizing Questions
Questions that help the client to separate the problem from self. Usually the problem will be given a name that makes it a autonomous identity from the person.
Unique Outcomes OR Sparkling Events
Events that exemplify the clients preferred outcome rather than the problem-saturated story. These are instances where the client does not experience the problem
Relative Influencing Questioning
Questions that help client understand that they are not a problem-person but rather a person who has a relationship with a problem. Three kinds of questions:
1) one set maps the influence of the problem on the person and losses experienced within this relationship, 2) another set encourages persons to map their own (and others) influence in the life of the problem, 3) the third set begins to map out the unique outcomes or the occasions where the person experienced some influence in their lives despite the discursive power of the problem.
Mapping the Influence of the Problem
The therapist will explore the distressing impact of the problem on the client’s life. It is a process of eliciting a detailed description of the problem’s EFFECTS on the client’s life and relationship (e.g. history, benefits, negatives, friends, exceptions, etc)
Mapping the Influence of the Person
Looks at how the person influences the problem in their own lives.
2) another set encourages persons to map their own (and others) influence in the life of the problem
Landscape of Action Questions
Questions used to gather information about times in the client’s life the person was able to RESIST the externalized problem and its effect on their life. This lead to unique outcomes or sparkling events
What ACTION did you take to resist this Depression last year?
Landscape of Meaning Questions
Questions use to help clients consider new or a more heroic self view in relationship to the problem
ex) How have you acted more bravely in this situation than before?
Preference Questions
Questions that make sure the unique outcomes represent the preferred experience. This helps Clients to look at how they participate in the problem
Therapeutic Letters
Therapists can write leters to their clients outlining the client’s competencies w/ respect to overcoming the problem and acknowledging sparkling events
Therapeutic Cerificates
Clients create them to announce their victory over the problem which they show to others and review when they feel the effect of the problem resurfacing
Collaborative Case Notes
Narrative Therapists will fill out note taking together. The Therapist is transparent and will include things that the Client finds meaningful
Clients as Consultants
Terminated clients serve as consultants on current cases. This promotes growth for the consulting clients and collaboration for the therapist
Narrative Therapy Assessment
- knowing the person apart from the problem
- identify unique outcomes
- mapping effects
Role of the Narrative Therapist
- not-knowing approach, non expert
- collaborative, we co-construct stories
- adopts language of client to join
Narrative Therapy Themes
- non-structured
- subjectivity based on lived experiences
- start therapy off with a unique outcome, only one necessary to begin treatment
Termination in Narrative Therapy
Termination occurs when the new narriatve is solidifid and its extension into the future is explored