Narrative Therapy

Introducing the special section on narrative and psychotherapy

by Miguel M. Gonçalves

Innovative moments and change processes in psychotherapy: An exercise in new methodology

by Miguel M. Gonçalves

Narrative therapy and the nature of “innovative moments” in the construction of change

by Miguel M. Gonçalves

Innovative moments and change in narrative therapy

by Miguel M. Gonçalves

Innovative moments and change pathways: A good outcome case of narrative therapy

by Miguel M. Gonçalves

Innovative moments and poor outcome in narrative therapy

by Miguel M. Gonçalves

Terapia narrativa da ansiedade: manual terapêutico para crianças e adolescentes

by Miguel M. Gonçalves

Neurobiology in the Consulting Room: An Interview with Margaret Wilkinson

by Daniela Sieff

Keeney, H. & Keeney, B. (2012). Externalization in narrative therapy: Addressing a modernist reemergence of exorcism. Terapia y Familia (Journal of the Mexican Association of Family Therapy).

by Hillary Stephenson

The Demise of the Story: Learning to Live in the Present

by Joseph Ryan

Stories shape what it means to be human. The ‘victim’ and ‘perpetrator’ both have their respective stories to tell. In... more Stories shape what it means to be human. The ‘victim’ and ‘perpetrator’ both have their respective stories to tell. In the ‘talking therapies’ (counselling, psychotherapy and psychology), the therapist facilitates clients to understand, express and come to terms with their life narratives. Or rather, there is a reframing of these stories, so that instead of anger and despair, there is a gradual development of compassion and acceptance of their experiences and who they are. Beyond the development of these new, nurturing tales, there is the possibility of transcendence in which all narratives are ‘dropped’. Here, the person no longer relies on a conceptual framework of limiting thoughts, beliefs and assumptions, but rather allows the past, and a constraining personal story, to fall away in favour of living openly in the present moment with all its multiple possibilities.

Transforming evidence: A discursive evaluation of narrative therapy case studies

by Robbie Busch

Busch, R. (2007). Transforming evidence: A discursive evaluation of narrative therapy case studies. The Australian Journal of Counselling Psychology, 7(2), 8-15.

A recent shift in American Psychological Association policy for what constitutes as evidence in psychotherapy has... more A recent shift in American Psychological Association policy for what constitutes as evidence in psychotherapy has resulted in the inclusion of qualitative methodologies. Narrative therapy is a discursive therapy that is theoretically incongruent with the prevailing gold standard of experimental methodology in psychotherapy outcome evaluation. By using a discursive evaluation methodology that is congruent with narrative therapy this study of six peer-reviewed narrative therapy case articles found shifts in client positioning in the transformation from medical pathology discourses to strength-based discourses. It is concluded that five out of six case studies coherently demonstrated the effectiveness of narrative therapy with positive outcomes for clients and that a discursive evaluation has utility in producing a thick description of therapeutic outcome.

A narrative approach to strategic eclecticism

by Jeffrey Guterman

Guterman, J.T., & Rudes, J. (2005). A narrative approach to strategic eclecticism. Journal of Mental Health... more Guterman, J.T., & Rudes, J. (2005). A narrative approach to strategic eclecticism. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 27, 1-12.

A narrative approach to body dysmorphic disorder

by Jeffrey Guterman

da Costa, D., Nelson, T.M., Rudes, J., & Guterman, J.T. (2007). A narrative approach to body dysmorphic disorder.... more da Costa, D., Nelson, T.M., Rudes, J., & Guterman, J.T. (2007). A narrative approach to body dysmorphic disorder. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 29, 67-80.

Using puppets with children in narrative therapy to externalize the problem

by Jeffrey Guterman

Butler, S., Guterman, J.T., & Rudes, J. (2009). Using puppets with children in narrative therapy to externalize... more Butler, S., Guterman, J.T., & Rudes, J. (2009). Using puppets with children in narrative therapy to externalize the problem. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 31, 225-233.

Language, complexity and narrative emergence: Lessons from Solution Focused practice

by Mark McKergow

Published as a chapter in Andrew Tait and Kurt Richardson (2011), Moving Forward with Complexity, Litchfield Park AZ: Emergent Publications, ISBN 978-0984216598

This paper examines the case for viewing conversations as emergent phenomena, and the practical consequences for... more This paper examines the case for viewing conversations as emergent phenomena, and the practical consequences for complexity practitioners and others engaged in ‘talking cures’.  Post-structural thinking from Wittgenstein onwards is connected to the school of Solution-Focused practice, which has made explicit use of these ideas in a practical, pragmatic and effective form of psychotherapy and coaching.  These fields can be connected by the idea of ‘narrative emergence’, which casts light on the ways in which new narratives are formed within apparently everyday conversations.   

Pride and Prejudice with Gay and Lesbian Individuals

by Eleanor Pardess

This paper explores unique challenges in helping gay and lesbian clients develop a positive identity in a society in... more This paper explores unique challenges in helping gay and lesbian clients develop a positive identity in a society in which prejudice and discrimination are prevalent.

A narrative approach within a postmodern framework gives us a new perspective on homophobia and heterosexism and sheds new light on the complexities of identity development and the coming out process as a re-writing of one’s story and as a continuous conversation with oneself and others.

Because the definitions and acceptability of same-sex love differ across cultures and are constantly changing, understanding the socio-cultural context is imperative. When helpers deny the culture-specific experiences in the lives of lesbian and gay clients, bias is likely to pervade the helping encounter.

Combining the expressive arts with narrative therapy can open new possibilities for practitioners. By rendering the invisible visible, opening lines of communication, and transcending culture barriers, art is a valuable resource. It can be a form of “giving voice” and of protest against dominant oppressive discourses.

A detailed case study will illustrate how narrative practices integrated with the expressive arts may provide support and validation as well as strengthen the capacity of the individual to resist the detrimental effects of negative labeling and pathologizing discourses.

Finally, based on studies surveyed in this chapter, a table has been prepared that lists guidelines for those affirmative practices that can provide support for identity development and biased practices where helping can harm

Understanding Trauma & the Rhetoric of Recovery: A Discourse Analysis of Virtual Healing Journals of Child Sexual Abuse Survivors

by Riki Thompson

Thompson, R. (2004). Understanding Trauma & the Rhetoric of Recovery: A Discourse Analysis of Virtual Healing Journals of Child Sexual Abuse Survivors. JAC: A Journal of Composition Theory- Special Issue, Part 2: Trauma & Rhetoric, 24(3), 653-677.

As survivors engage in the discourse of telling through writing, they rely on a variety of genres to do this work.... more As survivors engage in the discourse of telling through writing, they rely on a variety of genres to do this work. These “typified” survivor narratives—as will be shown through discourse analysis—can be classifiable using Bazerman’s “systems of genre” (1994). Figure 1 illustrates how the healing journal participates in a “genre system” by way of the survivor narrative, along with other genres. The meta-narrative is the discourses of healing, which acts as the ideological framework that all healing discourse participates in. Within the meta-narrative, there are a variety of forums where survivors may go to perform their narratives. Books and websites allow survivors a forum to tell and share through texts. Once a survivor has chosen a place to tell, she must also chose a particular genre, such as poetry or the personal journal. Survivor narratives, therefore, mediate different literary forms in order to produce their own form of the survivor narrative. In this paper, I will examine the website (forum) and the personal journal (form) .

Keeping Faith, Externalizing Belief: The Political and Therapeutic Significance of Narrative Therapy in a Post-Secular Era.

by Leland Maerz

In confusing the separation of church and state with the triumph of science and reason over religion and faith, the... more In confusing the separation of church and state with the triumph of science and reason over religion and faith, the modern secular project has produced a pressured situation where religious values and beliefs are perceived to be inappropriate and inadequate resources for addressing problems in the public sphere. Using autoethnographic accounts, as well as current events and recent research from a variety of disciplines, this work will express the need for a revised secularity —a post secular era— in which faith and belief are not exempted from public ‘places’ but rather, where there is discursive ‘space’ for both religious and nonreligious options to be freely sought.  While there is every indication in research and in popular opinion that such change is needed, there is little being written or said about the practices that might make such change possible.
The theory and practice of narrative therapy will be presented as not only therapeutically significant in addressing religion and spirituality in counselling but also politically influential in its contribution to a post-secular manner of engagement.  The therapeutic process and relationship in narrative therapy are built on practices that reveal the implicit influence of societal discourses upon the lives of people seeking help with their problems.  Religion and spirituality can be seen as both constraining of, and a potential resource toward, a more preferred experience of life.

Haydon-Laurelut, M. (2011). Disablement, systemic therapy and people with learning disabilities. Context. April 2011.

by Mark Haydon - Laurelut

I work a part of my week in a number of community learning disability teams. I undertake family therapy and systemic... more I work a part of my week in a number of community learning disability teams. I undertake family therapy and systemic practice of
various kinds including with the staff and management of support services. Th e remainder of my week, I work as a lecturer at the
University of Portsmouth. Th is paper explores some ideas about disablement and some of my experiences of working systemically
in services for adults with learning disabilities.

Against narrativity (final 2008 version)

by Galen Strawson

I argue against two popular claims. The first is a descriptive, empirical thesis about the nature of ordinary human... more I argue against two popular claims. The first is a descriptive, empirical thesis about the nature of ordinary human experience which I call the psychological Narrativity thesis: 'each of us constructs and lives a “narrative” … this narrative is us, our identities' (Oliver Sacks). The second is a normative, ethical claim which I call the ethical Narrativity thesis: we ought to live our lives narratively, or as a story; a 'basic condition of making sense of ourselves is that we grasp our lives in a narrative' and have an understanding of our lives 'as an unfolding story' (Charles Taylor); a person 'creates his identity (only) by forming an autobiographical narrative—a story of his life', and must be in possession of a full and 'explicit narrative (of his life) to develop fully as a person' (Marya Schechtman).

keywords: narrative, Narrativity, Diachronic personality, Episodic personality, non-narrative, anti-narrative, person, memory, story-telling, I*