Narrative Therapy

Our life is a story constantly written, with characters coming and going. In therapy, we will map your story, whether it is your individual story, relationship, or family story. We will work together to make “the problems” characters instead of part of your or a loved one's character so we can kick the “problem” out of your story.

The field-defining work of Michael White and David Epston broadened my therapeutic toolkit and has greatly influenced my approach with clients. In addition to appreciating the democratic, participatory approach between client and therapist within narrative therapy, I also align with narrative therapy's emphasis on how realities are shaped by the stories we tell, by the explanations we give, and by the themes and plots we choose. My practice reflects this emphasis upon language as a "way in."

What's your story? How does your internal narrative about yourself help or hold you back? How do we cling to certain versions of ourselves and what do we need to change? These are some of the questions we explore in Narrative Therapy. This technique is especially helpful for clients who feel stuck in their lives but aren't sure why. I help clients begin an inner dialog with themselves which can lead to insight, growth and change.

How we see ourselves and the world around us is contingent upon our experiences and narratives. Narrative Therapy is a good way to acknowledge why we are operating in the world as we do and it offers opportunities to make shifts, if so desired, by altering our narratives.

Narrative therapy is a form of counseling that views people as separate from their problems. This allows clients to get some distance from the issue to see how it might actually be helping them, or protecting them, more than it is hurting them. With this new perspective, individuals feel more empowered to make changes in their thought patterns and behavior and “rewrite” their life story for a future that reflects who they are, what they are capable of, and what their purpose is.

You are the author of your own story. I will help empower you to identify your current narratives with your partner, decide what is or isn't serving you both, and then rewrite the narratives to build the partnership of your dreams.

I embrace each of the stories we choose to lead. Sometimes, our stories can shift from ones that are enjoyable to ones of survival. I am here to help you get your life back on track and slay the monsters in your way.

The story of who we are and what our life is and means has a significant impact on how we feel and experience the world. Unfortunately, so many of the stories told by the larger culture have negative impact on our mental health and well-being. I seek to unpack the stories to push back against oppressive dominant narratives that are unhealthy and unhelpful to create new stories that bring joy, freedom, and comfort and allow one to live fuller and truer life.

Rather than playing the expert and objectively prescribing client’s motives, needs, drives, ego strengths, or personality characteristics; I value and respect differences between myself and my clients/families; I aim to collaborate with patients giving what they have to say equal privilege, and helping them to consider alternative stories. I help my clients identify their own strengths and wisdom to make positive change, and treatment is always customized to meet their unique needs.

I've trained in Narrative Therapy with the Vancouver School of Narrative Therapy, at both the introduction and advanced levels. I use narrative therapy to help clients reframe their experiences and develop a new, empowering story about themselves. I encourage clients to explore the stories they have been telling themselves and work towards creating a more positive and empowering ones.

The foundation of Dr. Inez's psychotherapy worldview is narrative therapy. Some suppositions of the narrative worldview as defined by Michael White: Everyone has meaning-making skills. Everyone tells stories. The meanings we give these stories shape our lives. Life is multi-storied, not single-storied. Therapists listen for these storylines, and we support people to develop the preferred storylines richly.

I have graduate-level education in narrative therapy, and have utilized techniques associated with this modality throughout my professional career.

Narrative therapy is the center from which all my work flows. I help people identify their own values, strengths and skills. This changes the shame-based narratives that keep us stuck, and leads to new ways of thinking about and solving problems.

Explores significant events/"stories" that occur over time in one's life. Acknowledges how these "stories" may have shaped a person's identity. Challenges 'problematic stories/narratives' one carries of self which inhibit growth and limit one's sense of internal peace. Focuses on not labeling or viewing oneself as "broken". Aims to allow one to get some distance from their preconceived narratives in order to re-assess their perspective and messaging surrounding it.

I use a narrative approach to help you explore stories you tell themselves about your life, where those stories come from, and whether they are serving you. Our work may also include journaling, tracking expereinces, reading, and other ways of exploring narrative if those seem like a good fit for you.

As a post-modern approach, Narrative Therapy centers you as the expert of your life. My role is to ask questions to bring you through processing your life in a way that allows for you to re-examine and re-narrate in a way that is empowering and clarifying. By doing so, we'll discuss carrying that empowerment into how you "write" your life going forward.