Narrative Therapy



"The person is never the problem, the problem is the problem." 

 

~ Eric Sween

 

Stories, continuously told, define our identity. Because some of our stories are "problem saturated" stories, the repeated reinforcement, they become our "identity stories."  

 

When we are stuck in emotional pain, we can forget that we are creative beings with many stories to tell. 

 

Beneath our "problem stories" are hidden skills, resources, positive values, dreams, and desires. In narrative therapy, we listen for indications of strength within the stories that are saturated with problems. In this course you will learn how to describe new ways of thinking that improve your emotional well-being.

 

The course fed my curiosity - I loved the questions, some of which prompted surprising answers in the writing process. I really enjoyed the way the questions were framed - a type of push/pull effect which contributed to viewing aspects from differing points.  "Looking in the round."  ~ M.G.

 

Stories order the information of our life. We attach meaning to every experience we have, and over time our meanings get organized into themes. We create our stories based on how we were mirrored by other people in our families, culture, and social groups. As we unearth our stories, we can learn re-tell them. With this practice you can learn to ‘re-author’ the story of your life. 



"I liked the daily emails as they were a reminder to check in and do some inner work every day.  Thank you!"    ~ R.D. 

  

"This has been a remarkable experience and I have learned and unlearned a great deal."

 

~ T.P - Florida

 

"I suffer from a general low-key depression, lacking hope in life and people. It was a challenging course, with very interesting prompts, especially those looking into hope."

 

~ F.G. - Africa

 

"When I signed up for this course I was feeling quite despondent and lost. I found the course both enjoyable and confronting.  It was a very moving thing to do on a daily basis." 

 

What I learned was that we can really change the way we perceive things and writing is a very powerful and gentle tool. I liked that the prompts where short and direct.  This made it very achievable for me.

 

Thanks for a very powerful way of redirecting my thoughts and helping me to realise I can change my thoughts with writing."  

 

~ A. M. - Canberra Australia

 

When I started this course I wanted a daily writing practice and I also wanted to do some inner work. I really liked receiving a writing prompt each afternoon. Each prompt, except for the last five, was easily "doable" in the time I had to write each day.  

 

I learned a lot about myself by exploring these questions.  The answers I came up with will serve as a valuable list of goals for me to strive for in these last years of my life. I find your courses more revealing and enlightening than most of my work with my therapist.    ~ F.T. 


A Year of Expressive Art and Writing

This course is now a part of my year-long expressive art and writing course.