Week 12 Narrative Therapy

Question 1

Narrative Therapy

Answer 1

Think stories…
-My life isn’t truth it’s a story
If I told you the story of my life I’d choose certain details and leave out others
-Narrative Therapy is about showing people they are the author of their story

Question 2

What’s Wrong with client’s narrative

Answer 2

• The “Problem Saturated Story” is too strong
• The “problem” is in control of your life
• You’re not seeing the “sparkling moments”

Question 3

The “Problem Saturated Story” is replaced by:

Answer 3

The new “Alternative Story” based on client’s strengths

Question 4

Techniques (6)

Answer 4

Forming identities
-Listen to the client tell the story
Externalizing problems
-Set the problem outside the client
Sparkling moments
-Notice and comment on times when client acts outside of the “Problem Saturated Narrative”
Thickening the alternative story
-Start building the story of strength
Measure progress
-How big does the problem feel today, compared to how big you feel?
Creating witnesses
-Get family, friends, teachers, etc. involved

Question 5

“sparkling moments”

Answer 5

As a client talks about their story the therapist listens for times when client acted outside of the “Problem Saturated Story”.

Question 6

“Thickening the plot”

Answer 6

The therapist asks questions about the sparkling moments to “thicken the plot” – to make the client more aware of the sparkling moments and to start to change the story from the problem story to a story of strength