Narrative Therapy

What is Narrative Therapy?

Narrative Therapy is a collaborative counselling approach that empowers individuals as the experts of their own lives. This therapeutic method views problems as separate from the person. It focuses on the narratives people construct about themselves and their experiences, without placing blame or judgment on anyone. 

By actively engaging with, examining, and reframing these personal stories, individuals can uncover alternative narratives that more accurately reflect their values, aspirations, and strengths. This process fosters new perspectives for growth, new experiences and a new future.

 

How Does Narrative Therapy Help?

Narrative Therapy supports people in:

• Challenging limiting beliefs and dominant stories

• Separating identity from problems

• Strengthening a sense of agency and personal meaning

• Healing from the effects of trauma or marginalisation

• Reclaiming stories of strength, connection, and resilience

 

How Does Narrative Therapy Work?

Narrative Therapy is a process of re-authoring or re-storying a person's experiences. At the heart of this approach is the belief that the stories we tell — and how we tell them — shape our perception of ourselves, our relationships, and the challenges we face.

We all make sense of life by organising events into meaningful sequences — these become the "plots" of our personal stories. For example, someone might link failure to form a story of inadequacy. At the same time, another might focus on times of perseverance to construct a story of resilience.

 

Importantly, Narrative Therapy recognises that everyone holds multiple, often contradictory, stories at once — about identity, relationships, abilities, struggles, and successes. Which story becomes dominant is influenced by how events are connected and the meaning assigned to them over time.

 

A key part of Narrative Therapy involves externalising problems. The concept of externalising means separating the person from the issue. So instead of saying, "I am anxious," someone might begin to explore their relationship with anxiety as something outside themselves. This shift enables people to reflect, evaluate, and respond more effectively to the challenges in their lives. It also opens space to notice personal strengths, values, and hopes that problem-saturated narratives may have overshadowed.

Therapists support clients through collaborative conversations that challenge fixed meanings, uncover previously overlooked experiences, and construct alternative stories that reflect the person's preferred identity. This process, often involving reflection, curiosity, and shared meaning-making, enables people to reshape their understanding of themselves and their lives.

While Narrative Therapy has its roots in family therapy, its principles are widely applied in schools, communities, and individual counselling, offering a flexible and culturally respectful approach to support change and growth.

It can also be effectively integrated with other therapeutic approaches — such as art therapy, cognitive behavioural Therapy (CBT), and other brief interventions - to enhance outcomes and tailor support to each person's unique needs. Narrative Therapy is also effective as Level 1 trauma intervention to stabilise trauma survivors and help them to function with daily living.

 

Who Can Benefit from Narrative Therapy?

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Narrative Therapy can be beneficial for individuals facing a wide range of life challenges, including:

• Depression and low mood

• Anxiety and stress

• Eating-related concerns

• Substance use or addiction

• Difficulties managing anger or frustration

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Narrative Therapy at Restoring Peace
At Restoring Peace, we offer Narrative Therapy to help individuals, couples, and families explore the stories they tell about themselves and their lives. This therapeutic approach focuses on separating people from their problems, allowing them to view their experiences from a new perspective. Our trained therapists provide a safe and supportive space where you can examine dominant narratives, uncover hidden strengths, and begin to re-author your story in a way that aligns with your values and preferred identity.

 

We tailor each therapeutic journey to your unique needs and may integrate complementary approaches such as EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Sand Tray, or Expressive Therapy when beneficial. For more information or to book an appointment, please email contact@restoringpeace.com.sg. If you're unsure whether narrative therapy is right for you, feel free to reach out to rose@restoringpeace.com.sg for guidance.