Understanding the Power of Narrative Therapy in Trauma Recovery
By Jewels Tauzin
As a therapist and a person, I know that trauma has a profound impact on our lives, leaving us feeling powerless, lost, and stuck. When a client is struggling to articulate the impact or importance of difficult events, I often rely on narrative therapy to help us see the picture more holistically. Narrative therapy invites us to imagine who we are at our core, beyond the painful experiences that have happened to us (White & Epston, 1990).
Developed by Michael White and David Epston, narrative therapy is based on the idea that we aren’t solely defined by our struggles, but rather the stories we tell ourselves about them. Narrative therapy offers creative, non-invasive ways to externalize the trauma, allowing us to view it as separate as who we inherently are. In viewing trauma from a distance, it helps clients to feel less overwhelmed with the intensity of the feeling and instead see things a bit more clearly. In trauma recovery, this can be especially powerful, helping us reframe our traumatic experiences in ways that prioritize resilience and strength rather than victimhood (Freedman & Combs, 1996).
Instead of seeing trauma as a defining feature of one's identity, narrative therapy helps clients tell a different story—one where they are active agents in their own recovery. This allows them to move from feeling defined by their trauma to recognizing themselves as survivors, capable of growth, healing, and change (van der Kolk, 2014). The therapist works with the client to externalize the trauma, which means that instead of seeing the traumatic event as something that lives within the person, clients can begin to talk about it as something separate—an event or experience that happened to them rather than something they are. For example, a person might say, "The trauma affected me," rather than, "I am a traumatized person" (Freedman & Combs, 1996).
While this is a simple shift, the effect over time can be transformative and allows survivors to see all the other times in their life they have met conflict with the same resilience and strength. By exploring trauma narratives, clients can see more clearly how they have coped with, survived, and even thrived in the face of deep pain. Externalizing the trauma helps individuals gain a sense of control, have a reduced sense of shame, and feel more empowered to change their narrative.
This is the most powerful aspect of narrative therapy– the power to rewrite the story. Oftentimes when we go through an event that we can’t control, we feel as if we may have somehow deserved it or there’s something about us specifically that made this happen. Narrative therapy allows the client to take a step back and see that actions outside of their control caused something to happen to them, and not only were they able to survive, but made the brave decision to seek support.
Instead of feeling passively caught in a never-ending cycle of pain and helplessness, narrative therapy highlights the unique and powerful will for greater peace and love in our lives that invites clients to therapy in the first place. It invites clients to look at their experiences and identity alternative narratives—stories of strength, survival, and hope. By focusing on what clients have done well and the resources they’ve used to get through tough times, narrative therapy fosters a sense of agency.
For example, if someone has experienced abuse, they might initially define themselves by their victimhood. Through narrative therapy, they can be encouraged to shift the narrative towards their courage, resilience, and capacity to seek help. What I love about narrative therapy the most is that is that it doesn’t force the client to relive or confront their trauma directly but instead creates a space for exploring it in a way that feels safe and empowering. Here are some practical ways that narrative therapy can help with trauma recovery:
Externalization
Clients discuss their trauma as separate from themselves, allowing them to feel less overwhelmed by it.
Re-storying
Survivors are encouraged to tell the story of their life in a way that emphasizes their strength and growth rather than their victimhood.
Reframing
The therapist helps the client look at the trauma in a new light, focusing on the skills and strategies they used to survive.
Meaning making
The therapist and client work together to understand how the trauma has shaped the client's identity and how they can redefine themselves moving forward.
By externalizing their trauma and focusing on resilience, survivors can regain their sense of self and agency. The pain and past aren’t erased, but clients are empowered to build a future focused on their strength, growth, and healing rather than the pain that has been inflicted onto them.
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References
Angus, L., & McLeod, J. (2004). The handbook of narrative and psychotherapy: Practice, theory and research. SAGE Publications.
Freedman, J., & Combs, G. (1996). Narrative therapy: The social construction of preferred realities. Norton & Company.
Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.
White, M., & Epston, D. (1990). Narrative means to therapeutic ends. Norton & Company.
