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What’s the story with Narrative Practice?
It's about re/claiming and re/creating your own story/stories
Narrative Practice is a non-pathologising counselling approach. That means it doesn’t medicalise your emotional experiences of life. (And that means that I do not offer diagnosis or assessment services, if that’s what you're after).
Narrative Practice is about stories. It’s about story telling and story listening. It’s about understanding how the ‘problem story’* developed, and exploring the chapters you’ve 'lived' (and which may have been written by someone else). It's about rewriting them in a way that is helpful and meaningful to you. It's about creating a narrative that will sustain you to move forward in your preferred ways of living and being.
Narrative Therapy was developed in the late 1970s-early 1980s by two social workers & family therapists, Michael White (Australian) and David Epston (New Zealand). Since then, an incredibly wise and hugely creative community of Narrative Practitioners has grown globally.
What will a Narrative Practice session actually involve?
Narrative Practice offers respectful, non-judgemental counselling and coaching. It is based on the relationship between you and me as co-researchers* of whatever 'problems' or goals you bring to our conversation. I am not the expert on your life*...you are, and so I will hold space for you by facilitating our sessions so that you can do the work to heal or grow or learn or take action or whatever you aspire to.
My Narrative counselling and coaching practices predominantly use a ‘talk therapy’ approach, with some complementary activities included where they may be beneficial (such as using visual prompts and tools). We may use some gentle physical practices to engage your body too. We’re partners in this process so we'll work out that detail together.
In any case, there’ll be lots of conversation, curiosity, questioning, compassion and reflection and I will create the space for you to be fully present, to feel and reflect safely, and to gain clarity and the confidence to take action.
*These are common Narrative Practice ideas and phrases.