This paper will look at the logic of narrative therapy by focusing on 5 major points. This paper will begin by discussing how the narrative approach defines and perceives problems. It will address how narrative therapy views the nature of the relationship between the client and the professional. It will also focus on three main techniques used in narrative therapy, which will include externalization, deconstruction and re authoring. The logic of narrative therapy narrative therapy is considered postmodern due to the fact that it uses a story telling approach to counseling monk, winslade, crocket epston, 1997. It became a popular form of therapy in the nineties and has gained national recognition kelley, 1996. Monk, winslade, crocket epston 1997 reported that narrative therapy is not interested in discovering the truth about who people are, but are more interested in understanding where people learned these truths about themselves and what role they play in the client's story monk, winslade, crocket epston, 1997.

Kelley 1996 defined a discourse as truths that the client has come to believe based on exposure to their culture and society. Monk, winslade, crocket epston 1997 defined discourses as a cluster of ideas produced within the wider culture 93. A discourse is when a person thinks that they should act or do a certain thing because that is what society deems acceptable. According to monk, winslade, crocket epston 1997 , discourses emerge from a variety of places, including family, culture, media etc.

300 Words Essay

When a person does not want to go along with the social norm they begin to feel like there is something wrong with them. At that point is generally when the person begins some form of counseling monk, winslade, crocket epston, 1997. After the problem is identified, the next important step in narrative therapy is to separate the person from the problem, which is known as externalization kelley, 1996 monk, winslade, crocket epston, 1997. According to monk, winslade, crocket epston 1997 , externalizing conversations are created with just a subtle change in the counselor's language that promotes a separation between the person and the problem. As a result, clients' inclination to inflict blame on themselves or others begins to lessen kelley, 1996.

Narrative therapists recommend externalization because it is believed that once the client is able to see the problem separate from themselves it makes it easier for the person to begin fighting the problem rather than fighting themselves kelley, 1996. Monk, winslade, crocket epston 1997 reported that the idea that people are not to blame for their problems is a simple way of thinking. It is a very different belief than most modern forms of therapy that believe that people have to take full responsibility for their problems before they can begin to make changes in their life kelley, 1996. Similarly, gerald 19 reported that in the medical model of psychotherapy, problems are seen as a disease or disorder. The role of the therapist is to find the cause of the problem and then to effectively treat the problem with some form of medication gerald, 19.

Narrative therapists do not see client's problems as a cause and effect situation. They focus their attention on both the therapist and the client getting a full understanding of the client's experiences and helping them to see where these problem beliefs came from kelley, 1996 monk, winslade, crocket epston, 1997. Narrative therapy is a collaborative and non pathologizing approach to counselling and community work which centres people as the experts of their own lives. A narrative approach views problems as separate from people and assumes people as having many skills, abilities, values, commitments, beliefs and competencies that will assist them to change their relationship with the problems influencing their lives. It is a way of working that considers the broader context of people's lives particularly in the various dimensions of diversity including class, race, gender, sexual orientation and ability.

Stories in a ‘narrative therapy’ context are made up of events, linked by a theme, occurring over time and according to a plot. A story emerges as certain events are privileged and selected out over other events as more important or true. As the story takes shape, it invites the teller to further select only certain information while other events become neglected and thus the same story is continually told.

These stories both describe and shape people’s perspectives on their lives, histories and futures. Often by the time a person has come to therapy the stories they have for themselves and their lives have more often than not become completely dominated by problems. These narratives on a timeline have been referred to as ‘problem saturated’ stories, which can also become 'identity stories'. For example we may hear someone describing themself by saying i’ve always been a depressed person. or an adolescent may be described as a young offender versus a young person who has been in trouble with the law.

Such identity stories can invite a powerful negative influence in the way people see their lives and capabilities ex: i’m hopeless . Counsellors and therapists engaging with narrative ideas and practices work alongside people in resisting the effects and influences of problem stories and deficit descriptions. In therapeutic conversations this involves listening and looking for clues to knowledges and skills that run counter to the problem saturated story.

Often to be discovered are what begin as thin traces to subordinated stories of intentions, hopes, commitments, values, desires and dreams. With curiousity and exploration these preferred stories and accounts of people’s lives can become thickened and richly described. Thus within a narrative framework, people's lives and identities are seen as multi storied versus single storied. It is on people co discovering through conversations, the hopeful, preferred, and previously unrecognized and hidden possibilities contained within themselves and unseen story lines. To this end, those interested in narrative practices collaborate with people in ‘re authoring’ the stories of their lives.

please visit these online resources to learn about the underpinnings of narrative therapy. visit our resources page to learn more about how narrative ideas and practices have been developed around the world. narrative therapy: 1. Focus of narrative therapy:  narrative conversations are interactive and always in collaboration with the people consulting the therapist. Narrative therapy seeks to be a respectful, non blaming approach to counselling and community work, which centres people as the experts in their own lives. It views problems as separate from people and assumes people have many skills, competencies, beliefs, values, commitments and abilities that will assist them to change their relationship with problems in their lives.

Curiosity and a willingness to ask questions to which we genuinely don't know the answers are important principles of this work. There are many possible directions that any conversation can take there is no single correct direction. The person consulting the therapist plays a significant part in determining the directions that are taken. It seems appropriate to begin any exploration of narrative therapy with a consideration of what is meant by the `narratives' or `stories' of our lives.

The role of stories narrative therapy is sometimes known as involving’re authoring' or’re storying' conversations. Stories consist of: events linked in sequence across time according to a plot 3. Listening with an open mind social constructionist theories place an emphasis on listening to clients without judgment or blame, affirming and valuing them.

Morgan 20 summarizes the theoretical foundations of narrative therapy as follows: cooperation of the person with the counsellors is of primary importance. A conversation can move along many different ways and there is nothing called the right way way to go along. Autor: anton bull september 22, 2010 bull 1,655 words 7 pages bull 949 views this paper will look at the logic of narrative therapy by focusing on 5 major points. The logic of narrative therapy narrative therapy is considered postmodern due to the fact that it uses a story telling approach to counseling monk, winslade, crocket amp epston, 1997.