The Art of Finding Yourself Through NARRATIVE THERAPY.

“The world is filled with the talent we do not know. There are many kids out there who could become great scientists, but they don’t even know that this is something they could do.” –John W Pham

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever noticed people going into depression just because they believe that they are inefficient or useless? Or Parents having issues with their children? Or an individual who over-identifies them with a formal diagnosis.

There are so many people out there despite having an abundance of talent, they are not able to identify it. Thus, Social worker Michael White and David Epston developed this theory from the 1970s to 1980s which solves issues which deal with Parent-Child issues, Individual who over or under identify their skills, values, beliefs. For instance, traits such as aggressiveness and anger. These traits are addressed more like a weed that needs to be uprooted for the plant to grow healthy. A very good example of this is an excessively aggressive student at school. A child feels like it’s his fault that he having these traits. The therapist works on separating this trait of the child. Aggressiveness and anger will be considered as an external trait of the child, and not the child’s character.

WHAT IS NARRATIVE THERAPY?

Narrative therapy sees PEOPLE and their PROBLEMS as unrelated. Also, it believes that individual has numerous skills, abilities, values, beliefs, mastery etc. which supports them and guides them during their difficult times. This therapy allows individual to externalize rather than keeping their issues within themselves

Narrative therapy claims that it follows a balance between individual and the society where it seeks to be a respectful and have a non-blaming approach for counselling and community work and also believes that people are experts in their lives. It gives them a wider perspective of things.

“The problem is the problem; the person is not the problem.” – Michael White and David Epston

TECHNIQUES OF NARRATIVE THERAPY

1. Re-authoring technique – Retelling your own story to find new meaning as they explore their own experience which makes a whole new chapter
2. Deconstruction technique – Breaking down problems in small and more specific issue to solve the issue with ease
3. Unique outcome techniques – Broadens your view and help you see with a more positive perspective.
4. Externalization techniques – Guides individual to view their problems as an external factor and not part of the internal factor. This embraces them and gives a positive impact on their confidence and their identity
5. Identity Proclamation – Individuals identity are usually influenced by their relationship with others. The therapist makes these individual realize and decrease the influence of others in their identity
6. Existentialism – Existentialists believe in a world with no inherent meaning; if there is no given meaning, then people can create their own meaning.  Narrative therapy encourages individuals to find their ikigai
7. Outsider witness map – Outsider listens to the client without any comment. The therapist interviews his view and proclamation on the story.

WHO BENEFIT FROM NARRATIVE?

1. Socially Obsessed – Those who obsessed with their social character and wish to have a different approach
2. Formal diagnosis – Those who believe that they are superior or inferior and are very focused on rules
3. Creative individuals – Creativity help them to analyze with more intensity and depth
4. Family – The surrounding of the individual improves also its solves family issues.

BENEFITS OF NARRATIVE THERAPY

1. Helps us explore and have a wide view of ourselves
2. Opens our mind to a new way of living
3. Helps us understand our capabilities
4. Helps individual to become experts in their own life
5. Helps Individual solve their problems

CRITISISM  ON NARRATIVE THERAPY

1. Narrators are unreliable; As they modify the narration to put them in the best light possible.
2. Lack of scientific evidence; As is it is a modern approach the shreds of evidence are minimal
3. Less promising to the client; A client expects remedies to their problems but when they are required to conduct the conversation on their own. Some may not be satisfied by this approach
4. Based on Philosophy; so it becomes more complicated as there is no specific process.
5. Not accurate for all type of clients; Individuals who are psychotic or have limited cognitive, intellectual would not be good candidates for this particular type of therapy.

Conclusion

By creating your own story narration, it allows us to look at our problems with a different perspective. Also if our problems become more transparent, it guides us to take the accurate step to resolve our problem. Even though narrative therapy is criticized due to its lack of scientific evidence, it is used extensively to counsel individuals and is used by various therapist form varied fields.