Narrative Therapy for Couples

08 Aug 2023

Therapeutic Approach for Couples Counselling

Narrative Therapy, a collaborative and empowering therapeutic approach, has found application in couples counselling to help partners explore and re-author their shared narratives. This approach acknowledges that individuals construct meaning and understanding of their experiences through stories, and in couples counselling, it focuses on the co-construction of shared stories within the relationship.

Shared Stories in Couples Counselling

In couples counselling using Narrative Therapy, couples are encouraged to explore the stories they have about themselves, each other, and their relationship. The therapist facilitates conversations that highlight the dominant and preferred narratives as well as the less empowering or problem-saturated stories that may be contributing to relationship challenges.

Key Techniques of Narrative Therapy in Couples Counselling

The key techniques of Narrative Therapy used in couples counselling include:

1. Externalisation: Couples are encouraged to externalise the problem, which means separating the person from the problem. This process helps the couple view their relationship challenges as separate from their identities, enabling them to collaborate against the issue rather than each other.

2. Re-authoring: In this process, couples work together to challenge and modify problem-saturated narratives. They identify times when they have resisted the influence of problematic stories and co-create alternate narratives that emphasize their strengths, values, and hopes for the relationship.

3. Unique Outcomes: Couples explore instances when they have successfully navigated challenges, demonstrating their resilience and strengths. This focus on unique outcomes helps to counterbalance dominant narratives of problems and provides a foundation for future growth.

4. External Witnessing: The therapist serves as an external witness, offering an objective and non-judgmental perspective. This externalising stance enables the couple to gain new insights and perspectives on their relationship dynamics.

5. Rich Story Development: The therapist actively listens to the couple’s stories and asks exploratory questions to facilitate rich story development. This process allows the couple to co-construct new meanings and possibilities for their relationship.

Successful Couples Counselling with Narrative Therapy

Narrative Therapy in couples counselling promotes collaboration, mutual respect, and understanding within the relationship. By exploring and re-authoring their shared stories, couples can find new ways of understanding each other and their relationship, leading to increased empathy, compassion, and a more fulfilling partnership.