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Therapy Types

Narrative Therapy

The stories we tell about ourselves shape how we live. Narrative therapy explores those stories and opens up space to tell different, more empowering ones.

You Are Not the Problem: The Problem Is the Problem

Narrative therapy is built on a powerful idea: the story a person tells about who they are is not a fixed truth. It is a narrative: shaped by experience, culture, and the voices of others and it can be explored, questioned, and rewritten.

For children and teens, the stories they carry can be deeply damaging: 'I'm bad,' 'I'm weird,' 'I can't do anything right,' 'nobody likes me.' These are not facts. They are narratives that have been constructed, often from difficult experiences or the opinions of others and they can be changed.

Narrative therapy takes a curious, respectful stance. The therapist never assumes they know what is best for the child or teen. Instead, they help unpack the stories, find the exceptions, and build richer, more accurate accounts of who the person really is.

In narrative therapy, the person is never the problem. The problem is the problem and it can be examined, questioned, and separated from who you are.

In Practice

The Narrative Therapy Process

1
Externalizing the Problem
Separating the problem from the person: 'anxiety has been telling you...' rather than 'you are anxious.' This shift creates space to examine and respond to the problem differently.
2
Exploring the Story
Understanding how the current story came to be: what experiences, messages, and voices contributed to how the child or teen sees themselves.
3
Finding Exceptions
Looking for moments that don't fit the problem-saturated story: evidence of strengths, resilience, and qualities that point toward a richer self-narrative.
4
Reauthoring
Building an alternative story: one that is more accurate, more compassionate, and more useful for how the child or teen wants to live.
Who May Benefit
  • Children and teens with low self-esteem
  • Identity challenges and self-concept struggles
  • Those who have internalized negative labels
  • Navigating difficult life experiences
  • Anxiety rooted in self-narrative ('I'm a failure')
  • Teens navigating identity development
  • Anyone who feels defined by their problems

Get Started

Explore a new story

We offer a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation for new clients: a chance to connect, ask questions, and see if we're the right fit.

Book a Free Consultation

Secure booking via Jane App · 15 minutes · No obligation