At Aliya Mental Health, we use narrative therapy as an approach to counselling that helps people reshape the stories they live by. Narrative therapy seeks to show that problems are separate from people, allowing individuals to reclaim their identities beyond hardship or trauma. This narrative practice views problems as separate and challenges the problem-saturated story many patients carry. Instead of being trapped in a dominant story that defines who you are, therapy offers the chance to develop alternative stories and preferred stories that reflect resilience, hope, and personal values.
An Easy-to-Read Introduction to Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy began in the 1980s from the research conducted by Michael White and David Epston and is now widely used in counseling and community settings. It is built on the idea that people and assumes people are not the problem—the problem is the problem. By working with a narrative therapist, you can explore how events are selected and organized into a dominant plot, shaping identity and relationships. This editorial process shows how life stories can be re-examined, re-framed, and richly described in new ways.
Narrative Practice in Action
In sessions at Aliya Mental Health, therapists help you uncover the narrative ideas that have influenced your sense of self. Together, you and your therapist explore how a problematic story took hold and where cracks in that story already exist. Through questions, reflection, and conversation, patients learn to recognize times they resisted the problem, moments when the dominant plot failed to capture the whole truth, and the potential for stories that are more rich and thick.
This approach to counselling is collaborative—placing people as the experts of their lives while the therapist helps amplify overlooked strengths. Unlike exposure therapy or structural family therapy, which focus on other forms of change, narrative therapy emphasizes storytelling as the central tool for healing. Still, it works well alongside systemic therapies, family therapy, and other types of therapy as part of a holistic care plan.
Effectiveness and Research Evidence
There is growing research evidence and narrative practice showing the effectiveness of narrative therapy for issues like depression, anxiety, trauma and PTSD, and addiction. The method’s strength lies in its adaptability—whether supporting individuals, couples, or families, it makes space for richly described accounts of life that allow people to create new meaning. Studies show that when people develop preferred stories rather than sticking to a problem-saturated story, they feel more empowered, connected, and hopeful.
What People Gain
Through narrative therapy, patients often notice:
- A stronger sense of identity that is not defined by problems
- Relief from feeling trapped in a dominant story
- The ability to create and live by alternative stories that reflect true values
- Improved relationships through more authentic communication
- Greater resilience when navigating new challenges
Begin Your Narrative Practice with Aliya Mental Health
If you are ready to step away from problematic stories and move toward preferred stories, our team at Aliya Mental Health can help. A trained narrative therapist will guide you through this unique, empowering process. Narrative therapy is often covered by insurance, and our staff will help you explore coverage so that cost is not a barrier.
Your life is more than a single dominant plot. With the support of Aliya Mental Health, you can re-author your story into something rich and thick, meaningful, and uniquely your own.