Narrative Therapy

Philosophical Background of Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy was influenced by the ideas of many postmodern philosophers, anthropologists, and critical thinkers, emphasizing the relational, contextual, and anti-individualistic views of people and relationships. In the late 20th century, anthropologists were beginning to move away from an observer point of view to a co-researcher point of view, considering people’s lived experiences and how they interpret these experiences within the system.

The work of three 20th-century anthropologists created a stronger understanding of the power of metaphor and storytelling. Edward Bruner proposed that stories give meaning to experiences and that people have many meanings and experiences; thus, people are multistoried. [Page 1100]However, Clifford Geertz suggested that stories hold metaphors (i.e., representations of experiences) that a therapist can investigate and that these systemically and culturally inherited metaphors influence the knowledge, meaning, and attitude one has toward life. Victor Turner explored the significance and celebration of these stories within these narratives. Barbara Myerhoff emphasized the systemic influence of storytelling on people’s interpersonal and intrapersonal conversations and experiences. Within this context, there can be many interpretations of a problem. Thus, storytelling holds metaphors that can be explored and celebrated through talk therapy. Anthropologist Gregory Bateson suggested that people’s stories have restraints that keep them from exploring their other stories. Narrative conversations help clients move away from these restraints to find unique outcomes (deviations from the restraints) that lead to new stories being told.

During the 20th century, other professions also informed the creation of narrative therapy, including the work of philosopher Jacques Derrida. Derrida introduced the concept of deconstructing stories to explore new metaphors within the storyline. Narrative therapy was also influenced by the writings of Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky, who suggested there is a gap between what a person knows and what they possibly know. By asking scaffolding (i.e., incremental) questions, a therapist attempts to move the client away from the familiar toward what is possible.

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