Unraveling Stories: The Power of Narrative Family Therapy
By: Mandy Boshell
Family is one of our fundamental social institutions that plays a key role in shaping the individual. Our family is our first introduction to socialization, education, emotional support, economic assistance, and caregiving. The family environment plays a crucial part in shaping our experiences, beliefs, behaviors, and overall well-being thereby impacting our contributions to others and society. A family’s values, beliefs, traditions, memories, and cultural heritage shape the legacy that families contribute to each generation. The complexity of our family dynamics includes our relationships, roles, communication patterns, and emotional interactions. This complexity is impacted by the family’s structure, individual members, external stressors, and societal factors.
The narrative family therapy approach was developed by Micheal White and David Epston in 1990 and draws on narrative theory, social constructivism, and postmodern philosophy. White and Epston based this theory on, “the premise that we “story” and create the meaning of life events using available dominant discourses – broad social stories, sociocultural practices, assumptions, and expectations about how we should live”. (Gehart, 2007, p. 428-429) Families and individuals have trouble when dominant societal expectations do not line up with their “story”. Narrative therapy is used to explore the meaning given to historical events in clients’ lives, separate people from their problems, and create alternative narratives or re-author existing narratives to support a preferred way of being. (Gershoni & Dagan, 2017, p. 1) The narrative approach is collaborative, respectful, and curiosity-driven, while taking a non-blaming stance to explore individual and family stories, and experiences while honoring, and respecting each member’s perspective. Through collaboration clients and therapists deconstruct problematic narratives, re-author empowering stories, and cultivate alternative perspectives. Honoring the unique stories, experiences, and perspectives of each family member this approach allows families to define their own identities and meaning-making processes.
Storytelling is foundational for building connections, sharing knowledge, and fostering a sense of identity and belonging. The narrative approach also provides an opportunity to uncover hidden strengths, resources, and solutions that may have been previously overlooked, promoting resilience and growth. Through the externalization of problems, challenges are viewed as separate entities rather than intrinsic aspects of the family’s identity reducing shame, blame, and stigma. Reflecting on family dynamics from a narrative perspective empowers us to break away from the limitations of our stories and re-author them to expand our understanding and options for responding to life. (Gehart, 2007, p.434)
Through the construction of a genogram, a visual map of the family structure is created providing an opportunity to identify and understand familial connections, interaction patterns, and intergenerational dynamics. From a narrative perspective, genograms become an occasion to discover how family stories are created. According to Chrzastowski (2011), “Genogram analysis is an excellent opportunity to become familiar with the array of family stories that constitute the given family”. (p. 637) Through assessment of the stories told in my family and our genogram, I can interpret family dynamics to understand better how certain roles, subgroups, and generational patterns influence our current family environment.
Themes and patterns erupt through the stories of how a family interacts, grows, and approaches relationships and life. These patterns are assessed for unique outcomes where problems are not dominant. This provides a foundation for building new, empowering narratives or re-authoring. Families are supported in creating alternative stories that reflect their strengths, values, and goals. This involves reinterpreting past events and envisioning a future less influenced by the problem.
Narrative Family Therapy can impact individuals and families by shifting from a problem-saturated narrative to one that highlights strength and possibilities. This approach to therapy fosters a sense of agency encouraging families to break free from limiting beliefs, empowering them to navigate challenges more effectively and cooperatively. Through externalizing problems, deconstructing harmful narratives, and focusing on unique outcomes, Narrative Family therapy empowers families to envision and realize a more positive and fulfilling future.
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References
Chrzastowski, S. (2011). A narrative perspective on genograms: Revisiting classical family therapy methods. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 16(4), 635-644. Doi:10.117/1359104511400966
Gehart, D.R. (2018). Mastering Competencies in Family Therapy: A Practical Approach to Theory and Clinical Case Documentation (3rd ed.) Boston, MA, US: Cengage Learning. ISBN: 9781305943278
Gershoni, Y. & Dagan, R. (2017). Using collective knowledge in narrative family therapy. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 36(2), 1-11.
