Narrative Therpay
Running Head: Narrative Therapy
Narrative Therapy Research Paper Israel Escobar Theories in Counseling Families and Individuals
Narrative Therapy Since the field of modern psychology is extremely broad, there are literally dozens if not hundreds of counseling theories. Over the past hundred years many new theories have been developed by psychologists, all with the goal of helping patients in the most effective and efficient way possible. One counseling theory that is gaining recognition more and more is narrative therapy. Narrative therapy was developed by social workers Michael White and David Epston and operates off the base principle that a person is separate from their problems, and the problems do not define a person (Combs, 1996). This paper will provide an overview and history of narrative therapy including what populations the therapy is effective for and less effective for; in addition the paper will present a fictitious case study using narrative therapy and give the author’s personal opinion on narrative therapy.
I. Description of the Theory As mentioned in the introduction, the basic principle of narrative therapy is that the patient is not defined by their problem. Narrative therapists look at the problems a person is experiencing as separate from their person, and encourage their patient to do the same thing. For example, if a person is an alcoholic, a narrative therapist would encourage that person to focus on their future and not see themself as defined as an alcoholic. Narrative therapy focuses on self-empowerment by getting patients to look at the positives of their situation and their person (Combs, 1996). Patients work to pinpoint the strong parts of their life, as a building block
Narrative Therapy Research Paper Israel Escobar Theories in Counseling Families and Individuals
Narrative Therapy Since the field of modern psychology is extremely broad, there are literally dozens if not hundreds of counseling theories. Over the past hundred years many new theories have been developed by psychologists, all with the goal of helping patients in the most effective and efficient way possible. One counseling theory that is gaining recognition more and more is narrative therapy. Narrative therapy was developed by social workers Michael White and David Epston and operates off the base principle that a person is separate from their problems, and the problems do not define a person (Combs, 1996). This paper will provide an overview and history of narrative therapy including what populations the therapy is effective for and less effective for; in addition the paper will present a fictitious case study using narrative therapy and give the author’s personal opinion on narrative therapy.
I. Description of the Theory As mentioned in the introduction, the basic principle of narrative therapy is that the patient is not defined by their problem. Narrative therapists look at the problems a person is experiencing as separate from their person, and encourage their patient to do the same thing. For example, if a person is an alcoholic, a narrative therapist would encourage that person to focus on their future and not see themself as defined as an alcoholic. Narrative therapy focuses on self-empowerment by getting patients to look at the positives of their situation and their person (Combs, 1996). Patients work to pinpoint the strong parts of their life, as a building block
References: Combs, Gene. (1996) Narrative Therapy: The Social Construction of Preferred Realities W.W. Norton Publishing Company Morgan, Alice. (2000) What Is Narrative Therapy? Dulwhich Center Publishing Monk, Gerald. (1996) Narrative Therapy in Practice: The Archaeology of Hope Jossey-Bass Publishing Madigan, Stephen. (2010) Narrative Therapy (Theories of Psychotherapy) American Psychological Association Brown, Katrina. (2006) Narrative Therapy: Making Meaning, Making Lives Sage Publications