This Modality Belongs in Every Therapist’s Toolbox

…And How to Use It Effectively

As therapists, we know how important it is to have approaches that not only help our clients move forward but also keep us engaged in the process. Some modalities feel rigid, others too unstructured, and it can be easy to get stuck in familiar patterns. But every once in a while, we find a modality that feels different, creative, collaborative, and deeply effective across age groups, cultures, and diagnoses.

The modality I’m talking about is narrative therapy. It has become one of the most transformative tools in my practice, not only for the way it supports clients but for how it complements other evidence-based approaches, especially Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT).

I first discovered narrative therapy in graduate school, and it immediately stood out to me compared to other models. It was creative, structured just enough to provide guidance, but flexible enough to adapt to each client’s story. I was so drawn to it that I chose it as part of my thesis.

As I began practicing, especially with children and adolescents processing trauma, I saw how powerful this approach could be. Through storytelling, drawing, role-play, and letter writing, my clients were able to externalize their struggles, reframe their experiences, and uncover strengths they didn’t realize they had. Later, as I worked with adults living with trauma or chronic illness, I saw the same results; clients who felt empowered to step outside of their diagnosis and reclaim their identity.

What Narrative Therapy Is

At its core, narrative therapy is about helping clients tell their story in a way that separates them from their problems. Instead of “I am depressed,” clients learn to see “depression” as something outside of themselves. This shift decreases shame, allows for distance, and opens up the possibility for change.

It’s also a deeply creative process. Clients might write letters to their illness, draw their anxiety as a character, or role-play conversations with their trauma. These practices aren’t just artful, they are evidence-based techniques that help clients access new perspectives and author alternative outcomes.

Four Core Practices of Narrative Therapy

1. Externalization of the Problem
Clients learn to separate themselves from their struggles, opening up space for new insights and self-compassion.

2. Storytelling as Intervention
Whether through art, writing, or role-play, storytelling uncovers both the problem-saturated narratives and the hidden strengths within a client’s lived experience.

3. Exploring Alternative Stories
Therapists help clients identify “unique outcomes,” moments when resilience, agency, or possibility was present, even in the midst of hardship.

4. Re-Authoring the Future
Clients are invited to co-create new stories, envision different outcomes, and reclaim authorship over their lives.

Narrative therapy doesn’t replace other approaches, it enhances them. 

It works beautifully alongside CBT, trauma-focused interventions, and even more psychodynamic frameworks. The creativity and collaboration it brings to the therapy room make sessions more engaging for clients and more rewarding for us as clinicians.

Whether it’s a child drawing their “worry monster” or an adult writing a farewell letter to chronic illness, the results can be profound. Clients discover they are not their diagnosis, not their trauma, not their illness but that they are the authors of their own story.

Ready to Integrate Narrative Therapy Into Your Practice?

I’ve seen firsthand how narrative therapy transforms lives, from children overcoming trauma to adults navigating chronic illness. And I believe more therapists deserve to experience the creativity and impact of this approach.

That’s why I offer supervision for therapists who want to integrate narrative therapy into their clinical work. Together, we’ll explore how to use this modality in real cases, add creative tools to your sessions, and deepen your confidence in weaving narrative techniques into your practice.

If you’re ready to bring this transformative approach into your toolbox, I’d love to support you through supervision. Book A Free Call With Me Here