5 Narrative therapy exercises to do with your clients

Posted by Tim Tarks on March 21st, 2023

Narrative therapy is an approach to psychotherapy that emphasizes the power of stories in shaping our identities and experiences. Here are some narrative therapy exercises that you can use with clients:

1. Externalizing conversations: This exercise involves encouraging clients to externalize their problems, by separating themselves from their issues. This is often done by creating a character or personifying the problem in some way. The therapist and client can then have a conversation with this externalized character, allowing the client to explore different perspectives and solutions.
2. Re-authoring stories: Re-authoring involves re-telling the stories that shape our lives in a more positive and empowering way. For example, a client may have a story about themselves as a failure or victim. The therapist can help the client re-tell the story with a focus on their strengths and accomplishments, to create a more positive self-narrative.
3. Letter writing: This exercise involves asking clients to write a letter to someone who has played an important role in their life, but with whom they may have unresolved issues. This can be a way for clients to explore their feelings, express themselves, and gain closure.
4. Unique outcomes: This exercise involves exploring times when clients have acted differently than their problem stories would predict. For example, if a client has a story about being a failure, the therapist may ask them to identify times when they have succeeded, and explore the factors that contributed to those successes.
5. Mapping influences: This exercise involves creating a map or diagram of the various influences in a client's life, such as family, culture, and social environment. This can help clients understand how these factors have shaped their identity and experiences, and explore ways to change negative influences.

These exercises can be adapted to suit the needs and goals of individual clients, and can be used in conjunction with other therapeutic approaches. Narrative therapy fillable worksheets can help you institute these exercises.