Sep

8

Narrative Therapy With Children

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When one uses the word narrative in the context of therapy he means the act of listening to people’s stories, as well as their telling and retelling. People might not think much of stories, not when you’re dealing with things that could be dangerous and even deadly, but the narrative therapy has its place. With a simple conversation, a new reality can be formed and shaped. This kind of therapy can be great when used with children, since it allows them to develop in a healthy way and to flourish, while the alternative would be an unhealthy mental scarring that could be hard to heal later on. With the help of stories, therapists can help children to create hopeful narratives, which allow them to keep going and to be happy.

The human species evolved in time by using stories, which they use in their minds in order to organize and to understand their own experiences and lives. The choices we make are often shaped based on the events we go through and the meaning we choose to give to those events. The problem can have roots in our biology, socioculture, psychology or it can be something personal, but it can also be a mix from all those. When you’re dealing with kids, there are problems that they can’t control and they can’t get rid of them. The problem might be with the family of the child and it can’t be solved, but they can learn how to properly live with it.

If you look at kids and the way they deal with problems, you will probably be amazed at how effective they can be, and how responsive and resourceful. With the help of language, the kid can externalize the issue and they can take an approach that is easier to deal with, even if the problem is quite serious. The playful approach is important and it should be used whenever a kid has to deal with a problem and he has to deal with it somehow.

The playful approach is a good way to deal when a child collaborates with an adult. The kids learn how they can use their own resources when trying to deal with problems. The narrative therapy for children makes sure that solving the problem doesn’t become boring for the kid and it makes it easier for them to get through it.

Another approach used when treating children with narrative therapy is externalization. This technique tries to separate the problem from the person that has it and when used for kids it can motivate them, allowing them to diminish their difficulties and to face them with ease.

Families have their own share of problems and the shame and blame tends to immobilize the members of the family and to silence them. There are cases when the problems are thought of as part of someone’s character and that tends to influence the relationships. Externalization is one way of dealing with this issue and it helps the children when used.

Category: Narrative Therapy

About the Author ()

I’ve hurt myself while trying to help myself more than you can imagine, that’s why I want to scientifically analyze every popular self-help technique and ‘method’ there is.