Narrative Family Therapy Paper

Narrative Family Therapies

PY 526 9115SUOL

July 17, 2015 The Narrative therapy approach was developed by Michael White and David Epston in the 1980’s and has been integrated into many therapeutic settings as a philosophy-based means of therapy (Skovholt, T., & Ronnestad, M. (1992)). “This approach is a method of therapy that separates the person from the problem and encourages people to rely on their own skill sets to minimize the problems that exist in their everyday lives” (White, M., & Epston, D. (1990)). Encompassing a style of externalizing problem situations, narrative therapy can be used for individuals, couples, or families (Beels, C. (2009)). By looking at situations from an objective viewpoint, families can confront the…show more content…
(1998)). Instead of altering the results of the problem, narrative therapy focuses on reconstructing the effects. A narrative therapist aims at viewing the issue at a distance, to gain insight on how a specific matter is benefiting rather than harming the client. “For example, post-traumatic stress might help protect a person from the difficult emotions associated with a particular event, although it also contributes a host of new troubling symptoms, such as anxiety” (Beels, C. (2009)). “Practitioners of narrative therapy believe that simply telling one’s story of a problem is a form of action toward change” (Beels, C. (2009)). “By exploring the impact of the problem, it is possible to identify what is truly important and valuable to a person in a broader context, beyond the problem” (Skovholt, T., & Ronnestad, M. (1992)). In this way, clients can identify similar patterns of their behaviors and decisions throughout their lives. This practice can help them better understand their life experiences and achieve self-sufficiency in dealing with future problematic…show more content…
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