Running head: Clinical 651-Narrative Therapy: A Humanistic Approach

Clinical 651- SOWK 651

Narrative Therapy: A Humanistic Approach
Melissa Degenhardt
Student # 10126670
Instructor- Mishka Lysack
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Narrative Therapy: A Humanistic Approach

Decentralizing Blame: A Shift Away from the Medical Model
Narrative therapy works to decentralize blame from the individual and examines
problems within the larger context of the persons life. Narrative approaches are designed
intentionally to shift focus from pathology-centered ways of thinking that are closely tied to the
medical model. Narrative therapy can be directly contrasted with other more classical
approaches to therapy. According to Waldergrave and Tamasese (1994) past therapeutic models
have been individualist, deficit based, and are centered around symptoms, sickness, and
diagnosis (p. 97). Instead, by using narrative approaches, we manage to decentralize the blame
from the individual. Narrative therapists work to view people as more than just the constraints in
their lives and open space to connect with them as human beings that have unique abilities and
inner-resources (Madsen, 2007, p. 57). Narrative therapy also takes into account the events that
are external yet very influential for individuals and their families. Therapist operating from a
narrative perspective consider contextual factors such as: unemployment, bad housing,
homelessness, and experiences of oppression such as racism and sexism (Waldergrave &
Tamasese, 1994, p. 96). In some of the deficit based models, therapists have not assessed the
impact of oppression and have interpreted its impacts as symptoms of family dysfunction
(Waldergrave & Tamasese, 1994, p. 96).
As a clinical social worker, who wants to obtain employment within the counselling field,
I am elated to discover narrative therapy at the very start of my career. I truly feel that the
narrative approach and humanistic approaches similar to it are the future of therapeutic
interventions. It is my belief, that it is time to let go of our traditional deficit-based models and
look at the factors holistically as they largely impact the lives of individuals and families.
Waldergrave and Tamasese (1994) say it best,
Classical models are working to adjust people to poverty and silencing the victims of
unjust social policies. Furthermore, by implication we were encouraging in the families
the belief that they, rather than the unjust structures, are the authors of their problems and
failures (p. 96).
As I am learning to become a professional therapist, I am being advised by my mentors to
find a therapeutic model that fits me. As a person with a lens that is constantly assessing the
impact of systemic oppression on people, narrative therapy is a very good fit for me. The
approach is congruent with my own beliefs and values as to why problems exist. As I progress in
my career, I am discovering that I align best with humanistic approaches that incorporate the
strengths of the person and take into account the barriers and inequality that are built into the
very structure of our society. Moving forward, I can use narrative therapy to stay connected with
macro and mezzo levels of social work practice, as narrative therapy requires that you consider
this context when doing micro-level counselling work. I found it interesting and very uplifting
that White (1995) suggests that narrative therapy can serve to break down the discourses of
pathology and can even play a part in undoing the effects of marginalization (p. 16). If used
effectively, narrative therapy can serve as an incredibly powerful tool.

Empowering Through Externalization

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The use of externalization is a central element of a narrative approach and is part of what
makes this form of therapy stand out from others. The use of externalization within therapy
allows for a clearer analysis from an outside perspective and it allows the person to view their
problem as something external from themselves (M. Lysack, personal communication
September, 2016). When a person begins to see a problem as something separate from
themselves, it too becomes separate from their identity. When a problem is no longer a part of
who you are, the idea of overcoming that problem becomes considerably more manageable.
Madsen (2007) articulates the impact of externalization well,
Externalizing is not simply a therapy technique, but a way of organizing our clinical
thinking. It offers a way to think about people as separate from and in a relationship with
the problem in their lives From this perspective, the person is not the problem; the
problem, or the persons current relationship with the problem is the problem (p. 56).
Once a person is able to see their own identity as being separate from their problems, they
concurrently experience a reduction in stigma and self-blame (M. Lysack, personal
communication September, 2016). By disempowering the problem, we serve to empower the
person (M. Lysack, personal communication September, 2016). This also provides a great
opportunity to highlight personal strengths and resiliencies in relation to the systemic oppression
that they experience. Narrative therapy is all about reclaiming power.
The concept of externalizing the problem was a huge learning moment for me. It made a
lot of sense in terms of conceptualizing the problem for both the client and the therapist. For
example, consider the use of language when referring to someone as an alcoholic. Within the
word alcoholic both the problem and the person are completely intertwined. As an alternative,
when you externalize the problem using a narrative approach, you could refer to the person as
someone who alcohol has a dependent relationship with. By using externalizing language, the
problem is considered to be both separate and influential for that person. The way that language
is used to externalize the problem and reduce blame was a revolutionary idea to me. Already, I
have begun to incorporate this idea into my clinical practice within practicum. I am finding that
it is a challenge to shift my thinking in this way, and this might be due to the influence of the
pathology-based models that I have already been exposed to within my education. However, I
look forward to challenging myself to use these techniques and practice the use of externalization
within the language that I use.

The Power of the Outsider Witness

The use of the outsider witness in therapy is another technique that seems simple but is
incredibly powerful. Using the outsider witness is essential to finding an alternative plot to the
clients dominant story (M. Lysack, personal communication September, 2016). According to
White (1995) The outsider witnesses are essential to the processes of the acknowledgment and
the authentication of peoples claims about their histories and about their identities, and to the
performance of these claims (p. 5). Often, the use of an outsider witness can fuel or strengthen
the conceptualization of unique outcomes that provides the client the opportunity to view
themselves in alternative ways (M. Lysack, personal communication September, 2016). Bringing
in the perspective of the outsider witness allows the client to not only consider the view from an
outsiders perspective, but to consider the counter-plot that the witness offers in contrast to their
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dominant story (M. Lysack, personal communication September, 2016). It can be a life-altering
realization for a client to realize that they can be seen as a different person and have someone
close to them be able to verify and strengthen that perspective. It is clear that this approach is
very strength-based and that being a witness for someone is truly a method of instilling hope
(Weingarten, 2000).
According to White (1995), the idea of the outsider witness challenges the supremacy of
expert knowledge and privileges alternative knowledge systems (p. 16). It is important that we as
therapists recognize that there are other very legitimate and powerful forms of knowledge that
are available, and this knowledge exists within relationships. For those who practice from a
humanistic perspective, we must respect these forms of knowledge as they can prove to be more
powerful than the knowledge we can offer as therapists. It makes so much sense to me as to why
the outsider witness would be a powerful tool to use within therapy. I know there are times that I
can recall in my life where people have been an outsider witness for me and recognized qualities
in me that I did not see in myself at the time. Relating to this experience confirms how
empowering offering an alternative plot to a person can be. Our views of ourselves can become
narrowed and skewed based on a dominating perspective. Offering this alternative view
challenges us to consider a plot that is counter to our dominant story.
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References
Lysack, M. (2010). Environmental decline, loss, and biophilia. Critical Social Work 11(3)
retrieved from http://www.uwindsor.ca/criticalsocialwork/2010-volume-11-no-3
Madsen, W. C. (2007). Collaborative therapy with multi-stressed families (2nd ed.). New York:
NY: The Guilford Press.
Waldergrave, C., & Tamasese, K. (1994). Some central ideas to the just therapy approach. The
family journal: counselling and therapy for couples and families, 2(2), 94-103.
Weingarten, K. (2000). Witnessing, Wonder and Hope. Family Process, 39 (4), 1-12. Retrieved
from Academic Search Elite with Full Text database. (Accession No. 3884158)
White M. (1995). Reflecting team work as definitional ceremony. In M. White, Re-authoring
lives: interviews and essays. Adelaide, AU: Dulwich Centre Publications.