Re-Author the Stories of Your Life
Narrative Therapy in Melbourne and Australia-Wide
Do you feel like you get defined by the problems in your life, instead of on your terms?
How many of your labels, expectations, and beliefs about you did you choose? Are they based on your strengths, your hopes, and your values? Or are they a collection of what people around you have decided is true?
You might insult yourself or diminish your skills. Maybe it’s not so direct, and you tell yourself “I shouldn’t take a break, I’m not even close to finished” or “my friends are probably tired of dealing with me.” Have you ever paused and wondered - says who? What makes these things true, and why do I believe them? The stories you tell yourself are complex, constantly evolving, and often developed for a reason- but they don’t always serve your best interests.
It can feel like…
There’s something “wrong” with you that needs fixing for life to get on track
Everyone gets to define you - family, teachers, strangers, society - except you
Past therapy has focused on the problems in your life, but not how you resisted them
Narrative Therapy helps you take back control of your story
Narrative Therapy is a strengths-based, non-pathologising approach to mental health. Because “The person is not the problem, the problem is the problem.”
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Together we explore and reshape the stories you’ve told about yourself, your experiences, and your connections. It’s a collaborative, strengths-based approach that emphasises “separating the person from their problems” and empowering you to take an active role in shaping your life.
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From the outside, Narrative Therapy might look like any other therapy session - maybe with a little more drawing or singing, depending on the people involved. But the conversations will likely have more:
Questions, and lots of ‘em! Narrative Practitioners take nothing for granted - we want to know what it’s like for you, not for “the average person”.
Collaboration, because you’re the expert of your experience, and the new ideas and strategies we create will come from your unique experiences.
Turning your lens on the people, ideas, and situations in your life, and scrutinising it all the way you’ve been scrutinised.
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By questioning what you’ve accepted as normal, Narrative Therapy helps you to start being intentional about the the rules and beliefs in your life. It helps to wrangle those automatic thoughts so you can question them, instead of agreeing with beliefs that have only ever harmed you.
You’ve survived every day so far, now let’s figure out how you did it, and how to make tomorrow less work than yesterday.
Curious to try Narrative Therapy?
Narrative Therapy could be a good fit for you if…
You haven’t been treated like the expert of your life, and want a space that respects your journey
It feels like a problem has taken over your life, and you’re not in control anymore, the problem is
You find personal meaning in metaphors, stories, patterns and cultural wisdom
Past therapy has been “problems-focused” and you felt like something was missing (though it may still have been a valuable experience!)
What we’ll work on
With Narrative Therapy, you can…
Change the patterns that have been ruling your life
Separate your identity from your problems, so you’re no longer fighting against yourself
Rediscover the places, people, and circumstances that bring out your best self
Question what’s “normal”, “allowed” or “the right way” and find your way
Author your story
Author your story
Questions?
FAQs
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Narrative therapy is suitable for individuals, couples, families, and groups. It’s especially effective for those dealing with identity struggles, trauma, life transitions, or feeling stuck in patterns of self-blame or hopelessness.
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Sessions involve storytelling, asking reflective questions, exploring past and present experiences, and discussing alternative ways to view problems and relationships.
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It’s a quote by Michael White, who founded Narrative Therpay. It means that a person’s identity is separate from their struggles. It emphasises that problems come from external factors, not inherent flaws within us.
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Writing can be a helpful tool, but it’s not required. Many people explore their stories verbally, through art, or other creative expressions during sessions.
