PSYCH 1137 - Introduction to Narrative Therapy

Get a lively introduction to narrative therapy that is useful if you want to have productive conversations using a collaborative approach. Narrative therapists help people remember what trauma, depression, anxiety or addiction can make them forget.  When people are connected to knowing what they value and what they have valued in their lives, when they are engaged in telling stories about their lives that illustrate their commitment to these values, then problems can often be more easily be addressed in a therapeutic setting.   This approach decentralizes the therapist, thus helping you become less vulnerable to ideas of overresponsibility and burn-out.  Class activities include examples of how to work narratively with people after trauma or when dealing with addictions and involve an instructive analysis of video material and transcript   You are encouraged to read the books Maps of Narrative Practice by Michael White or Introduction to Narrative Therapy by Martin Payne.