Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Exploring the Therapeutic Lens of Narrative Therapy
- Summary
- FAQs
- Conclusion
Introduction
“This is my first time in therapy.” “How do I know what is working for me?” “Can I give any solution to my therapist in terms of what works for me?”
Do these questions sound familiar? If so, we got you! In this edition of Therapeutic Interventions, let’s take you through the different therapeutic tools and techniques that are available and let’s decode therapy with the use of these different lenses. As a client, you may have these questions and doubts when you decide to take a step towards your mental health and your overall well-being.
While it takes courage to take the first step and seek professional help, there are also different questions with respect to the sessions, and each comes with its own feelings of uncertainty. Mental health professionals use different techniques depending on what’s best for you and works well for you. However, as a client, one can definitely pitch in and educate themselves about these therapeutic interventions.
As a client, being informed about your progress is essential. Similarly, knowing what works best for you is important to make the most of the therapeutic journey.
Exploring the Therapeutic Lens of Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy was founded by Michael White and David Epston. Narrative therapy focuses on the stories that people tell about their lives and themselves. It is influenced by external factors, societies, and people in power—people that you interact with on a daily basis and the various systems that are in place. It’s fascinating, isn’t it? However, they are not the only ones in control of you and your life, but narrative therapy also encourages us to create a narrative of our own and take control of our own lives.
Here are a few things to know about narrative therapy:
Externalization of the Problem: Narrative therapy believes in externalizing your problem and viewing it as an external entity. You learn to see these problems as a separate entity, something that does not define you as a person.
Reauthoring Stories: In the therapeutic space, you learn to reauthor your stories to align them with your current goals and value systems. As discussed earlier, the focus of narrative therapy is also to craft your own story, rewriting your life the way you want to with the assistance of your therapist.
Narrative therapy allows you to take charge of your life and your life story!
Summary
Narrative therapy lets you write your own story and narrative in a therapeutic space, which is so empowering and effective in dealing with mental health concerns. As a client. It is equally important for you to be aware of the different processes in therapy so that you can make the right choice for yourself. The two major foci of narrative therapy are to externalize the problem, see it as a separate entity and reauthor your story the way you want.
FAQs
What should I look for when choosing a therapist? – You can look at their years of experience, the different approaches they use and do trial calls to understand your level of comfort with the therapist.
What are the other ways that I can learn about therapy? – Reading up articles and research papers can be a great way to educate yourself about therapy.
Should one discuss a plan of action with their therapists? – Definitely! Having open discussions with your therapist can be fruitful for your therapeutic relationship and your mental health journey. This allows you to have open conversations about what’s working for you.
Conclusion
Well, it looks like something you can work on in therapy. Then you know where to begin. Remember, there are therapeutic techniques out there that would work for you. The idea is to communicate with your therapist in terms of what works for you because you know yourself better! Every approach is unique and so are you. Understanding these therapeutic approaches aids you in not only understanding yourself better but also in understanding what would work well for you as an individual.
To know more and learn about Narrative Therapy, enroll here – Narrative Therapy – PsyQuench
