Case Studies and Applications
what application could be used in this case study? Name: Sarah (pseudonym)
Age: 32
Presenting Concern: Sarah seeks therapy to address feelings of inadequacy and a sense of failure in her life, especially at work and in her relationships. She describes feeling "stuck" in life, often ruminating about past mistakes and an inability to move forward. She often compares herself to others and feels as though she never measures up.
what is co-authoring
This Australian Social Worker is considered one of the founders of Narrative Therapy
Who is Michael White
In the Gospels, Jesus often helped people reframe their stories, as seen when he told this woman, “Go and sin no more.”
Who is the woman caught in adultery? (John 8:11)
Narrative therapy emerged as a distinct approach in the late 20th century, challenging traditional therapeutic models. In which decade did narrative therapy begin to take shape?
What is the 1980s?
The idea that people are not defined by their problems, but that problems exist outside of people, is called...
What is externalization?
In a case study, a client feels stuck in a narrative of failure due to past experiences with addiction. What narrative therapy approach would be most helpful?
What is externalizing the problem and identifying strengths in overcoming addiction?
This Canadian Social Worker co-founded Narrative Therapy along with Michael White
Who is David Epston
In Romans 12:2, Paul speaks about transformation through this process, which aligns with Narrative Therapy’s idea of re-authoring one’s story
What is renewing the mind?
This philosophical movement influenced the development of narrative theory, emphasizing the importance of language in shaping reality.
What is postmodernism?
This term describes the process of re-authoring one’s life story to challenge dominant negative narratives.
What is re-authoring or re-storying?
Charlie, a corporate professional, has been struggling with feelings of inadequacy and burnout. She has been feeling overwhelmed by work pressures and has difficulty finding meaning in her daily life. She often feels like her life lacks purpose and that she is "stuck" in a cycle of routine without fulfillment.
What is meaning-making?
Payne discusses this in his chapter on narrative theory as one of its ideas of practice. He says it " is an established way of thinking about and viewing events, experiences and situations." What is this practice called?
What is Frame?
The story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50) illustrates how a painful life narrative can be reframed for good, as shown in this famous quote: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.
What is Genesis 50:20?
His book, published in 1990, is one of the key texts that outlines the foundational principles of narrative therapy.
What is Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends by Michael White and David Epston?
This concept refers to the idea that individuals create and interpret their lives through the stories they tell.
What is narrative identity?
Jane had been an active member of groups in a community centre, renowned among members for her caustic wit. She was diagnosed with a form of dementia and admitted to a care home some way from her home. Jane had little functioning memory in her current life and often became distressed because she thought she had nowhere to go and could not remember either the care home or her room in it. On other occasions, she worried that she had to get to work or a meeting a life-long ago in her past. Members of the centre took it in turn to take her to group activities and other social occasions. They noticed she was less interested in visiting an attractive local park, but when they took her back to a park in her previous home area, she talked about how she had walked her dog and played with her children there. What kind of Narrative does this case show as stated by Payne?
What is Diachronic Narratives
This key figure developed the concept of “externalizing the problem” in narrative therapy.
Who is Michael White
This Christian practice involves reflecting on personal experiences and finding God's presence in one's life story.
What is testimony?
Narrative therapy emerged from this country, where Michael White and David Epston began their work.
What is Australia?
This technique encourages clients to identify and reframe the dominant stories that shape their identities.
Answer: What is deconstructing the problem-saturated story?
A social worker helps a teenager with a history of being labelled as "difficult" to see how they can rewrite their story and reclaim their agency. What is the most relevant narrative technique used here?
What is re-authoring?
This psychologist and scholar developed the concept of "narrative practices" relation to identity
who is Jerome Bruner
The parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15) illustrates the power of rewriting one’s life story. What major narrative shift happens in the son’s life?
What is moving from shame and rejection to restoration and belonging?
In the early 1990s, Michael White and David Epston began integrating ideas from this social theory into their work, emphasizing the ways people construct meaning through language and social interaction.
What is social constructionism?
The practice of involving others in the storytelling process to provide new perspectives is known as...
What is collaborative dialogue?