Narrative Therapy
Founders
Narrative Therapy was first developed by Michael White
and David Epston (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). White and Epston were inspired
by Gregory Bateson, an anthropologist and psychologist (Van Wormer & Davis,
2008).
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Overview
Narrative therapy attempts to separate the individual
from their problem (Goodtherapy.org, 2012). This process can be referred to as “externalization
(Van Wormer & Davis, 2008).” Externalization involves verbally separating
the issue from the client, and ensuring that the issue is separated from the
client’s personal identity (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). This process allows
the client to address the problem on its own. Externalization serves as a very
productive form of therapy (Goodtherapy.org, 2012).
Narrative therapy mainly focuses on attempting to
separate the individual from their problem (Goodtherapy.org, 2012). Throughout these
therapy sessions, therapists attempt to transform how the problem effects the
client’s life (Goodtherapy.org, 2012). By doing this, the individual is liberated
from stigmatizing labels, and learns how to deal with this problem in a healthy
and productive way (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008).
This approach requires intense listening on the part of
the therapist (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). A large focus of this therapy is
the client’s life stories and history (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008).
Therefore, the therapist seeks to find evidence of past competence within the
individual, through their life history (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). This therefore
gives the clients hope that change is possible, and that they are capable of
being competent (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008).
Addiction Cycle
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The cycle of addiction involves use, misuse, abuse, and
dependence. In addition, this cycle comes along with frustration about the
symptoms, fantasizing about using the drug, obsessing about the drug, actually
doing the activity, and then feeling guilt and shame surrounding the
drug/activity (Recoveryconnection.org, 2013).
The Narrative Therapy approach may work well to alleviate
the cycle of addiction. The effectiveness of this therapy would ultimately stem
from the fact that the client could become separated from the
activity/substance that they are addicted to. By doing this, the client could
see that the addiction is not who they are, or a steadfast part of them. In
separating the client from the addiction, the client is able to think clearly
about ways to overcome it.
My Thoughts
The Narrative Therapy approach would be extremely helpful
to me during the course of my career. I hope to one day become a clinical
psychologist, and therefore provide therapy to individuals in need. The
Narrative approach seems to be a very effective method of therapy. It gives
clients confidence in themselves, and provides them with skills to help
themselves in the future, even when they are done therapy.
In addition, this approach seems to be very effective for
people struggling with addiction. By separating themselves from their
addiction, they are able to see themselves without it, and how well they are
able to function. It allows them to see a future without their addiction, and
that will help them to overcome it.
References
Goodtherapy.org. (2012, January 03). Narrative therapy. Retrieved from http://www.goodtherapy.org/Narrative_Therapy.html
Recoverconnection.org. (2013). Cycle of addiction. Retrieved from http://www.recoveryconnection.org/cycle-of-addiction/
Van Wormer, K. & Davis, D. R. (2008). Addiction treatment: A strengths perspective. California: Brooks/Cole
Sarah, thanks for the post. I enjoyed learning about another strengths-based approach. I found that narrative therapy is quite different from the strengths-based approach I had researched, motivational therapy. For example, motivational interviewing seems as though it is more collaborative in that it is more conversation like; whereas, narrative therapy involves more of the therapist listening to the client. In addition, narrative therapy involves separating the client from the problem; whereas, motivational interviewing involves more reflection on the problem to increase intrinsic motivation. However, one similarity would be that both approaches are client-centered. In addition, I enjoyed how you tied in the addiction cycle to narrative therapy. It is very important for one with an addiction to realize that the addiction is not who they are and I agree that narrative therapy could help one to realize that.
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