Overview

Narrative Therapy is a collaborative and respectful approach that positions people as separate from their problems.

Rather than viewing symptoms or behaviours as defining features of a person’s identity, this approach explores the stories that people live by, including the ones they tell about themselves, and the ones that have been told about them by others, often shaped by culture, systems, and power. These stories are shaped within social, relational, and cultural contexts. They influence how individuals make meaning of their experiences and how they come to view their own capacities, failures, and hopes.

Narrative Therapy invites clients to re-author their stories by noticing, exploring, and developing alternative narratives that reflect their strengths, values, and commitments, rather than being limited by problem-saturated descriptions. 

This activity explores:

• what is Narrative Therapy and how it differs from other therapeutic models, 
• the key theories that underpin Narrative Therapy, 
• understanding the power of voice and cultural sensitivity in co-authoring stories, and 
• what ethical issues might arise in Narrative Therapy practice. 

Level of learning

Foundational. This activity is targeted to those who are new to the topic.

Target audience

This activity is suitable for: psychologists, social workers, general practitioners, occupational therapists, nurses, and allied health practitioners.

Duration of access

Access to this activity is for 6 months from the date of confirmed registration.

CPD Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the APS CPD Frequently Asked Questions for general and technical information when undertaking Professional Development with the APS.

APS CPD-Approved

This eLearning activity has been assessed against the APS Standards for CPD activities and approved for its education quality. Learn more about the APS CPD Approval process.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this eLearning activity, participants should be able to:

• describe the theoretical foundations of Narrative Therapy, including its focus on meaning-making, discourse, and identity, 

• reflect on ethical and cultural considerations in using Narrative Therapy, including therapist positioning and client agency,

• consider which clients and contexts may benefit from Narrative approaches, and how this model differs from traditional pathologising therapies, and 

• identify core practices of Narrative Therapy such as externalising, re-authoring, and deconstruction, and how these are applied in clinical settings.

About the presenter(s)

Contributors
This eLearning activity was guided by an Expert Reference Group, consisting of Australian psychologists and other professionals who are leaders in their field. The APS gratefully acknowledges the significant contributions, in time and expertise, of David Newman - Honorary clinical fellow at the University of Melbourne School of Social work and a faculty member of Adelaide-based Dulwich Centre, one of the homes of narrative therapy and community work.