Narrative Approach
The narrative approach is a therapeutic and social work framework that views
individuals as the experts in their own lives and emphasises the importance of
the stories people tell about themselves and their experiences. Developed within
narrative therapy, the approach argues that people understand their identities
through the meanings they assign to life events, relationships and social
experiences. Rather than defining individuals by their problems, the narrative
approach separates the person from the problem and encourages the
development of alternative stories that recognise strengths, resilience and
possibilities for change. Within social work, the narrative approach supports
person-centred, strengths-based and anti-oppressive practice by empowering
individuals to reconstruct more positive and meaningful narratives about their
lives (White & Epston, 1990).
The narrative approach was developed during the 1980s by family therapists
Michael White and David Epston. Influenced by postmodernism and social
constructionism, they argued that reality is shaped through language, culture
and social interaction rather than existing as a single objective truth. White and
Epston suggested that people organise their experiences into stories, but these
stories may become dominated by problems, trauma or negative experiences. As
a result, individuals may begin to define themselves according to these problem-
saturated narratives, overlooking their strengths, achievements and preferred
identities (White & Epston, 1990).
A central principle of the narrative approach is externalisation, which involves
separating the individual from the problem. Rather than describing someone as
"an alcoholic" or "a difficult child", practitioners describe the problem as
something external that affects the person's life, such as "the influence of
alcohol" or "the impact of anger". This reduces blame and encourages individuals
to view themselves as capable of influencing or changing the problem rather
than being defined by it.
Another important concept is the identification of alternative stories. Narrative
practitioners help individuals recognise occasions when the problem was less
influential or when they demonstrated strengths, resilience or successful coping
strategies. These experiences are used to develop new narratives that better
reflect the individual's values, abilities and aspirations. Through questioning,
The narrative approach is a therapeutic and social work framework that views
individuals as the experts in their own lives and emphasises the importance of
the stories people tell about themselves and their experiences. Developed within
narrative therapy, the approach argues that people understand their identities
through the meanings they assign to life events, relationships and social
experiences. Rather than defining individuals by their problems, the narrative
approach separates the person from the problem and encourages the
development of alternative stories that recognise strengths, resilience and
possibilities for change. Within social work, the narrative approach supports
person-centred, strengths-based and anti-oppressive practice by empowering
individuals to reconstruct more positive and meaningful narratives about their
lives (White & Epston, 1990).
The narrative approach was developed during the 1980s by family therapists
Michael White and David Epston. Influenced by postmodernism and social
constructionism, they argued that reality is shaped through language, culture
and social interaction rather than existing as a single objective truth. White and
Epston suggested that people organise their experiences into stories, but these
stories may become dominated by problems, trauma or negative experiences. As
a result, individuals may begin to define themselves according to these problem-
saturated narratives, overlooking their strengths, achievements and preferred
identities (White & Epston, 1990).
A central principle of the narrative approach is externalisation, which involves
separating the individual from the problem. Rather than describing someone as
"an alcoholic" or "a difficult child", practitioners describe the problem as
something external that affects the person's life, such as "the influence of
alcohol" or "the impact of anger". This reduces blame and encourages individuals
to view themselves as capable of influencing or changing the problem rather
than being defined by it.
Another important concept is the identification of alternative stories. Narrative
practitioners help individuals recognise occasions when the problem was less
influential or when they demonstrated strengths, resilience or successful coping
strategies. These experiences are used to develop new narratives that better
reflect the individual's values, abilities and aspirations. Through questioning,
