Composing and Revising a Counselor's Narrative

Abstract

In exploring his narrative as counselor, this author was led to new growth and insights. Defining the counselor's narrative may be an important supplement to client narrative therapy.

Violence Survivors With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Treatment by Integrating Existential and Narrative Therapies

“…Using this collaboration and emphasis on themes, the therapist can externalize and deconstruct the problem as a means of cocreating a new story that is saturated with the client's strengths, assets, and preferred outcomes (K. C. Herman, 1998;Richert, 2003;White & Epston, 1990b). By focusing on these factors, the therapist is able to incorporate an optimal worldview, empowering the client to live in ways outside his or her typical narrative, thus positively reinforcing newly established meanings and goals (Kirven, 2000;Richert, 2003).…”

“…During the process of joining, the narrative therapist extends much effort in listening empathetically as a means of validating the client's experience, seeking immersed meaning and themes, and examining external factors that affect the client's ability to move toward his or her goals (Petersen, Bull, Propst, Dettinger, & Detwiler, 2005;Richert, 2003). Using this collaboration and emphasis on themes, the therapist can externalize and deconstruct the problem as a means of cocreating a new story that is saturated with the client's strengths, assets, and preferred outcomes (K. C. Herman, 1998;Richert, 2003;White & Epston, 1990b). By focusing on these factors, the therapist is able to incorporate an optimal worldview, empowering the client to live in ways outside his or her typical narrative, thus positively reinforcing newly established meanings and goals (Kirven, 2000;Richert, 2003).…”