MODALITY:
Narrative Therapy

Narrative Therapy:
Rewriting the Story You Tell About Yourself

Narrative Therapy is a collaborative, strengths-based approach that helps individuals explore and reshape the stories they carry about themselves, their lives, and their identities. Developed by Michael White and David Epston, narrative therapy invites clients to view problems as separate from who they are, and to reconnect with hope, resilience, and possibility.

At Wellness Counselling Centre, we use narrative therapy to support clients in naming their experiences, re-authoring self-limiting beliefs, and connecting with their values, strengths, and preferred ways of being.

How Narrative Therapy Can Help

Narrative therapy is effective for a wide range of challenges, including:

Anxiety & Depression – Separating from the problem and identifying more empowering narratives
Self-Esteem & Identity Struggles – Challenging internalized messages and reconnecting with personal strengths
Trauma & Grief – Making meaning of difficult experiences and honouring resilience
Relationship Difficulties – Exploring the roles we’ve played in relationships and shifting unhelpful dynamics
Life Transitions – Rewriting your story during moments of change, growth, or uncertainty
Parenting or Family Challenges – Helping families externalize problems and work together on new narratives

Narrative therapy focuses not just on what's been hard—but on how you’ve made it through, what matters to you, and who you’re becoming.

Who Can Benefit from Narrative Therapy?

Narrative therapy is a flexible approach that can be helpful for:

Children & Youth – Using stories, drawings, and metaphors to process experiences
Adults Feeling Stuck or Defined by the Past – Re-authoring internal narratives that no longer serve
Couples & Families – Exploring shared stories and creating new ways of understanding each other
People Healing from Marginalization or Oppression – Reclaiming identity and resisting problem-saturated stories
Clients Navigating Spiritual, Cultural, or Personal Transitions – Exploring meaning and voice within changing life contexts

Narrative therapy creates space for clients to speak from their own truths, outside of shame or judgement.

What to Expect in Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy sessions often include:

Externalizing the Problem – Seeing the problem as something outside of you, not something you are
Exploring Dominant & Alternative Stories – Noticing which stories have shaped your identity, and which ones you want to grow
Naming Strengths & Values – Identifying skills, relationships, and beliefs that support the life you want
Re-authoring Conversations – Creating new understandings and openings in the narrative of your life
Storytelling, Writing, or Creative Expression – Sometimes using letters, journaling, or metaphors to deepen the work

Your therapist acts as a curious partner, helping you tell your story in a way that reflects your courage, wisdom, and agency.

Our Approach to Narrative Therapy

At Wellness Counselling Centre, narrative therapy is often integrated with other approaches to support the whole person:

Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Working with different “parts” of your story with compassion
Mindfulness-Based Therapy – Staying present to your experience while exploring your narrative
Somatic Therapy – Recognizing how your body holds stories, emotions, and memories
Art & Expressive Arts Therapy – Bringing your story to life through creativity and metaphor
Trauma-Informed Therapy – Ensuring emotional safety while working with difficult or painful stories