The Benefits of Narrative Therapy Essay - 1873 Words

Narrative Therapy In the early 80’s a new theory garnered acclaim in psychotherapeutic circles. It is called Narrative therapy and has its roots in a postmodern idea known as constructivism. Ian Ridgway (2005) defines constructivism this way, â€Å"Humans create meaning within social contexts because it is believed either that reality is essentially without meaning or its true meaning is beyond us.† Michael White and David Epston are the two most prominent figures in the development of Narrative Therapy. White and Epston recognized a shift in how people construct meaning for their lives and believed that to help a client it was important to deconstruct the stories in his or her life the client would naturally alter the behavior (Nichols,†¦show more content†¦He also was attracted to Gregory Bateson’s ideas about how communication affects one’s interpretation of the world. These circumstances led directly to White’s development of narrative therapy and hi s concept of problems seeking to control people rather than the outcome of how people function. According to White, by deconstructing the oppressive narratives in their lives people can construct positive stories in place of negative ones (Nichols, 2010). The other prominent individual in the establishment of narrative therapy is David Epston. Born in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada in 1944, he received his degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Auckland University of New Zealand in 1969 (Wikipedia, 2010). He worked closely with Michael White to develop a narrative approach to therapy. Some of Epston’s greatest contributions to narrative therapy stress the importance of support groups to help clients maintain healthy approaches to dealing with problems as well as sending letters to clients to give them reminders to assist them in living out their new stories (Nichols 2010). Narrative therapists do not adhere to a traditional view of how people behave or develop normally. In many psychotherapy settings the counselor will have a basic understanding of what is normal and abnormal. However, a narrative counselor does not make this assessment, but rather attempts to avoid makingShow MoreRelatedTherapeutic Techniques and Components of Narrative Therapy621 Words   |  3 Pagestechniques and components of narrative therapy and give examples of how to operationalize this approach. Narrative therapy is an emerging psychological technique that has gained considerable popularity since its inception in the 1970s and 1980s. It allows the patient to externalize the problem and when this psychotherapy is applied properly, it endows the patient with a fresh, more productive perspective to apply to their problematic situation (Freedman, Combs, 1996). Narrative therapy assumes a more openRead MoreNarrative Analysis : Narrative Therapy757 Words   |  4 PagesNarrative therapy is one of the post-modern therapies used today. Narrative therapy helps individuals identify their values, skills, and knowledge they have to effectively face problems in their lives. The key ideas of narrative therapy are: people’s stories give meaning to their lives, stories are shaped by emotional themes, a person’s story shapes his/her personality, people seek counseling when their stories do not match their lived experiences, and people who have less social power benefit greatly Read MoreCbt And Narrative Therapy For My Client s Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Diagnosis Essay1747 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Throughout the semester, we analyzed two very different treatment modalities of therapeutic interventions. These methods were Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Narrative Therapy. The framework and strategy behind each of these concepts could benefit a particular client depending on diagnosis and various other factors. Moreover, in some instances, a combination of both therapeutic interventions may be most constructive. In this paper, I will introduce my client and provide detailsRead MoreNarrative Therapy : My Identity And Beliefs1199 Words   |  5 Pagesbecause I am a female, and immigrant, and was raised in poverty. Accordingly, after exploring several theories during my first year of graduate school, I concluded that Narrative Therapy best â€Å"fits† my identity and beliefs. Narrative Therapy is one of several postmodern therapies that include Solution Focused and Collaborative Therapy. The postmodern lens emphasizes on eliminating the erroneous belief that therapists are experts in their client’s lives and can easily fix problems. As a result, I learnedRead MoreThe Use Of The Beck Hopelessness Scale ( Bhs )1190 Words   |  5 Pagesthe leading causes of compulsive suicidal attempts. Analysis of Theoretical Basis The theoretical basis for working with someone with dependency and depression can be narrative therapy along with cognitive behavioral therapy. Narrative therapy is from the theoretical approach that individuals have their own unique narratives (Phipps Vorster, 2015). The intervention approached should be gentle with caution to translate what the client’s story means to them and guide them towards change inRead MoreThe Advantages Of Geneal Therapy : The Benefits Of Group Therapy808 Words   |  4 PagesBenefits of Group Therapy The implementation of group therapy for substance abuse treatment is common practice within the many levels of treatment intensities, from outpatient counseling to residential inpatient. It has been proven to be not only cost-effective, but just as effective as helping client reach treatment goals as individual counseling (Van Wormer Davis, 2018). Groups, while they present their own sources of challenges, the group dynamic provides clients with wonderful learning opportunitiesRead MoreTrauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy1299 Words   |  6 Pagesaccident, domestic violence, natural disaster) of a close individual (Faust Katchen, 2004). (Faust et al., 2004)The fourth factor emphasizes that age may be a factor in children’s responses to traumatic events which thus determines the course of therapy (Faust Katchen, 2004). (Faust et al., 2004)Very young children struggle with cognitive components of cognitive-behavioral intervention strategies because it exceeds their developmental capabilities (Faust Katchen, 2004). (Faust et al., 2004)AsRead MoreEvidence Based Research : Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy1207 Words   |  5 Pagesresearch suggests trauma focused cognitive behavior therapy (TB-CBT) is a particularly effective model to use with individuals who has experienced childhood trauma. TB-CBT is evidence-based; it is a treatment model that was designed to assist children, adolescents, and their families to overcome the damaging effects of traumatic experiences. Eye movement and desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), is another evidence-based treatment that uses therapy to process distressing memories, with the goal ofRead MoreOccupational Therapy And Eating Disorder Recovery1438 Words   |  6 Pages I struggled to find an occupational therapist to interview for this assignment. Without knowing the big movers in the field of occupational therapy and eating disorder recovery, I felt I was grasping at nothing. I did actively p ursue many authors of papers that focused on OT and ED but received no response. This was regardless of my mode of communication, zero phone calls back and emails unresponsive. I decided to change my approach to this and stepped outside of the field of OT. This is when IRead MoreThe Most Damaging Types Of Trauma1730 Words   |  7 PagesTrauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), to serve as a specialized treatment approach to responding to the needs to these youth. TF-CBT helps children that have experienced traumatic events overcome the symptoms that may be left behind. According to the National Center for Child Traumatic stress, TF-CBT provides education and understanding of common reactions and symptoms that may result from sexual abuse and other forms of trauma. This type of therapy helps the child to understand their