What is Narrative Therapy?
Narrative Therapy is a collaborative and empowering form of psychotherapy that helps individuals explore and reshape the stories they tell about their lives. Many people who come to therapy feel stuck in limiting stories shaped by pain, trauma, shame, or a sense of inadequacy. Narrative Therapy supports clients in revisiting and rewriting these stories, helping them create new narratives grounded in their strengths, values, and intentions.
This model was developed in the nineteen eighties by Michael White and David Epston, two therapists from Australia and New Zealand. It is rooted in postmodern and social constructionist perspectives, which recognize that people make meaning through stories that are influenced by culture, power, and experience.
Research published in journals like the Journal of Systemic Therapies and Family Process has shown that Narrative Therapy can be effective in reducing emotional distress, strengthening identity, and improving relationship patterns. It has also been especially meaningful for individuals and communities who have experienced marginalization, trauma, or disconnection.
At our Arvada practice, our narrative therapists are here to support you in reclaiming authorship of your story.If past experiences or dominant narratives are shaping your life in ways that no longer serve you, reach out today for a FREE consultation at (720)-580-3866.
How Narrative Therapy Works and Who It Can Help
This approach is often useful for clients who feel trapped in painful patterns or labels they have carried for years, whether those were placed on them by others or internalized over time.
At Rocky Mountain Relational Therapy, we use Narrative Therapy to help individuals, couples, and families examine the stories that are shaping their sense of self and their relationships.
The process often begins by separating the person from the problem. For example, instead of saying “I am anxious,” we might explore how anxiety has been affecting the client’s life. This shift allows space for curiosity and clarity. Together, we explore where the problem came from, how it operates, and how the client has responded to it. We also look for exceptions to the problem story: moments of resilience, connection, and insight that can help build a more empowering and accurate version of the client’s experience.
This approach is ideal for people who feel misunderstood by traditional therapy or by diagnostic labels. It is a flexible and respectful way of working that honors each client’s wisdom, values, and lived experience. We have found that Narrative Therapy is especially helpful for people who want to understand themselves more deeply and connect with a more grounded sense of who they are.
While Narrative Therapy can stand alone as a complete approach, we often integrate it with other modalities such as Emotionally Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems, or Brainspotting. This integrative approach allows us to tailor therapy to the unique needs of each client.
Our History With Narrative Therapy
At Rocky Mountain Relational Therapy, some of our therapists are drawn to Narrative Therapy because it reflects our belief in people’s capacity for change and connection. This approach invites a spirit of collaboration, curiosity, and respect, allowing us to support clients in exploring their experiences without judgment and reclaiming the language they use to describe themselves.
Our team includes therapists with training in Narrative Therapy through both graduate education and continued study. Liz Delaney, MA, MTFC has completed training through the Narrative Therapy Initiative (NTI), including What Is Narrative Therapy?, a foundational course introducing its respectful, collaborative approach and social justice perspective, along with practical examples of its use in therapy. She will continue her training with Narrative Therapy in Practice in June 2026. Liz also brings a background in literature and writing, which deepens her appreciation for the power of language and storytelling in the therapeutic process.
You Are the Author of Your Story
If you feel like your story has been shaped by pain, loss, or the expectations of others, Narrative Therapy offers a way to take that story back. You do not have to be defined by what has happened to you. You have a voice. You have values. And you have the ability to shape what comes next.
At Rocky Mountain Relational Therapy, we are here to walk alongside you as you discover a more honest and empowering way to understand your life. Together, we can explore the stories that have brought you here and begin to imagine the stories that will carry you forward.
Therapists who Specialize in Narrative Therapy:
References
Combs, G., & Freedman, J. (2012). Narrative, poststructuralism, and social justice: Current practices in narrative therapy. The Counseling Psychologist, 40(7), 1033–1060.
Etchison, M., & Kleist, D. M. (2000). Review of narrative therapy: Research and utility. Journal of Counseling and Development, 78(3), 243–249.
Morgan, A. (2000). What is Narrative Therapy? Adelaide: Dulwich Centre Publications.
Payne, M. (2006). Narrative Therapy: An Introduction for Counsellors. London: SAGE Publications.
White, M., & Epston, D. (1990). Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Narrative Therapy Related Blogs
Rewriting the Story of Singlehood: A Narrative Therapy Perspective
In many ways, our culture still tells a very specific story about what a “successful” life looks like. Fall in…
How Narrative Therapy Helps You Break Free From Negative Stories
Our life is a combination of many stories and narratives. In many ways, we are our stories. The ways we interpret…
Contact Us
If you’re ready to explore your story in a new light, our Arvada narrative therapy team is here to support you.