Narrative Practice
Psychological support centered on each person
Narrative therapy is a psychotherapy practice that’s recognized internationally by the scientific community. It’s one of the latest developments in psychotherapy, which has had a big impact on the overall discussion and practice in this field.
It is a warm, humane, non-judgmental therapeutic practice. It respects each person’s individuality and supports them in connecting with their values, knowledge, and abilities so that they can ultimately face life’s difficulties.
Among other things, it helps them to re-examine their life story in a more empowering way, as well as to navigate in their own preferred way within the multitude of broader social influences (practices, ideas, discourses).
Since it views people as members of broader groups, narrative practice is a systemic approach, ideal for working with larger groups of people, such as organizations and communities.
Narrative is a form of therapy that aims to help each person recognize their values and abilities. It provides the individual with the knowledge and methods to use these values and abilities to deal with current or future problems.
It is a warm, human-centered process that helps the individual see the story of their life. Not only the problems, but also the bright moments. Thus, they will ultimately be able to write their future story in empowering ways.
Narrative therapy creates collaborative relationships based on respect, acceptance, and appreciation. Those who practice narrative therapy take special care not to reproduce blaming practices, but to support each person in their preferences for how they want to live.
They therefore help the individual to deconstruct social ideas and narratives that may distance them from what they consider important. They also monitor the progress of the therapy, constantly taking into account the assessment of the individual concerned.
Who is intended for
Narrative therapy has a wide range of applications in all kinds of life difficulties that affect people’s mental health, from the mildest to the most «difficult.»
It focuses on identifying the social factors that influence the development of these difficulties and on empowering people to deal with them.
It recognizes that differences in social power, social class, economic status, gender, sexual orientation or identity, race, health status, and others can contribute to the development of mental health problems. It places particular emphasis on accepting the uniqueness of each person and recognizing the social difficulties that lack of acceptance can cause.
Those involved in narrative therapy work collaboratively with individuals, families, children, adolescents, couples, groups, organizations, and communities to enhance their ability to move toward their preferred directions in life.
Our values & commitments
1
The person is not the problem. The person is the person and the problem is the problem.
2
Broader cultural/social practices, ideas, and understandings contribute significantly to the emergence of problems, but also to solutions. Each person has the right to choose what suits them and what does not from these cultural/social influences.
3
The focus of therapy is on the insights, ideas, knowledge, values, and abilities of the person seeking help, rather than on the ones of the practicioner.
4
The person who practices narrative therapy knows how to conduct a conversation in a way that brings the person into contact with what is important to them, as well as their abilities and values.
5
Each person understands their experiences through the stories they tell about themselves and the meaning they construct for them.
6
Therapy is a collaborative process, and the person seeking our advice is often asked to evaluate this process.
Ελληνική Εταιρία Αφηγηματικής Θεραπείας και Κοινοτικής Πρακτικής 