Narrative Therapy–Informed Work
A conversation-based approach that helps clarify meaning and shift unhelpful stories.
Narrative therapy, developed by Michael White and David Epston, treats problems as separate from people — the problem is the problem, not the person. It uses collaborative conversation to help people examine the stories they've developed about themselves and their lives, identify where those stories came from, and explore alternative stories that are more aligned with who they actually are.
A conversation-based approach to examining and rewriting unhelpful personal narratives.
What to expect: Sessions are typically 50–60 minutes. The work is primarily conversation-based, often using specific questions that invite you to examine your story from different angles. Practitioners may use writing, letters, or other externalizing practices. The approach is explicitly non-hierarchical — the practitioner is a curious collaborator, not an expert on your life. Narrative work varies widely in length depending on what you are exploring. After 6–10 sessions, check in with your practitioner about what stories have shifted, what new possibilities have opened, and what you still want to explore.
Good fit for: You want a meaning-focused approach to support, You are navigating a transition or re-evaluating your identity, You prefer conversation-based work without a fixed protocol, You want a non-diagnostic, non-pathologizing frame
Explore for: Identity questions or confusion about who you are, Life transitions that have disrupted your sense of self, A dominant story about yourself that feels limiting or unfair, Feeling defined by a problem, label, or past experience, Wanting a non-pathologizing, collaborative approach
Not the right fit if: You are in acute crisis requiring immediate intervention, You want structured skill-building, You are looking for a body-based or emotion-processing approach, You need diagnosis or clinical assessment
How to choose a practitioner: Look for practitioners trained in narrative therapy specifically — it has a distinct philosophy and approach Ask how they typically use narrative ideas in sessions Choose someone whose framing of your situation feels collaborative rather than diagnostic
Explore all wellness modalities