Finding Home in Narrative Therapy

By: Madison Brunk, LMHC

I’ve always told people that I wear my values on my sleeve. I commit myself to principles like hope, community, justice and self-determination.

I recognize the importance of centering lived experience and, for a long time, was eager for an approach to therapy that aligned with the way that I saw the World and people in it.

And I know it can be the same for folks starting therapy.

I’ve come across many clients who are seeking what I sought – a space and therapy relationship that honors these ideas and holds them close. If this sounds like you, I want to share the home I found in narrative therapy and how it centers, rather than dismisses, what many of us hold dear.

Narrative therapy is a counseling approach that’s interested in how our identities are shaped socially and through the stories we tell about our lives.

There are four principles that will likely inform the way your therapist understands and interacts with you and the problems you present with:

4 Principles in Narrative Therapy

People are separate from problems:

People face problems, resist problems, and are in relationship with problems. 

People are not problems. This perspective is non-blaming while also offering you agency to change how you react and respond to problems.

People are experts on their lives and the problems they face:

Narrative therapists won’t see themselves as experts in problems. Instead, they act as investigators helping to identify the tactics problems use to take hold, conditions that support them, and their weaknesses. Your unique input and perspective is centered; treatment is personalized and collaborative.

People construct meaning in stories and these stories can become dominated by problems:

When you come to therapy, you might tell problem-saturated stories that sound something like “I’m too selfish” or “I’m always anxious.” These stories are usually filled with anecdotes that have been retold a million times and integrated into your identity. A narrative therapist will listen for these stories, their cultural or social supports, and what these stories say about your values, beliefs, and desires.

People have desires, beliefs, skills, and values not recognized by problem stories:

Narrative therapists are also interested the stories that haven’t been retold or places where problems don’t touch. For instance, they may be interested in hearing how you made a therapy appointment even when you felt helpless. Or about that person who believed in you enough, it made you believe in yourself. You might be asked to consider how these actions, loved ones, values, or strengths challenge the problem-saturated stories or make them feel less powerful.

Your voice is celebrated

In this therapeutic space, your agency is not only acknowledged but celebrated.

As I’ve used narrative therapy with clients, I've witnessed not only a shift in how people perceive and navigate challenges but also profound change in people’s lives. With its emphasis on separating individuals from problems, acknowledging their expertise, and exploring the untold stories of resilience and strength, it provides a unique space for healing and growth.

It's not just about addressing what's wrong; it's about uncovering the richness of our identities beyond the problem-saturated narratives.

If this approach speaks to you, I encourage you to reach out to learn more. If you are in Florida, I am happy to speak with you about the problems you face and how we might work together to investigate and grow around them.  

Your values don’t have to be sacrificed to receive care.

You can contact us here at Hope & Serenity Health Services, located in Altamonte Springs in Central Florida!