Teens battling substance use disorder often find themselves in a cycle of negative thoughts and behaviors. Narrative therapy can be an effective way to help teens break out of this cycle.
In narrative therapy, teens are encouraged to tell their stories and identify the positive aspects of their lives. This helps teens see themselves in a more favorable light and develop new meaning for their lives. As teens learn to tell their stories more positively, they gain empowerment and are more likely to make positive choices for their future.
The Basics of Narrative Therapy
The development of narrative therapy in the 1980s was an attempt by New Zealand-based therapists Michael White and David Epston to empower people. It seeks out counseling that’s non-blaming or blaming with no pathology involved.
The concept was to help people feel better while giving them control of their lives. This counseling style helps people become — and embrace being — experts in their own lives. The emphasis is on the stories you develop through your life’s experiences; each event leads to another and so forth until they come full circle back with new meaning for what has happened before.
Elements of the Therapy
There are several main elements that therapists use in narrative therapy, including:
#1. Externalizing the Problem
This means that the therapist works with the person to help them see their problems as separate from themselves. This can be done through different activities and exercises, such as story-telling or journaling. This separation helps prevent individuals from identifying too closely with the issue and pathologizing themselves. Instead, they learn that they are not the problem. They are people with problems.
#2. Breaking It Down
Deconstruction is breaking down a personal story into smaller pieces to understand it better. This can be done by looking at individual events or experiences and examining them in detail. Through this process, people can often see their stories in a new light and better understand themselves. This can be an incredibly powerful tool for helping teens make sense of their lives and experiences. It can provide a space for individuals to share their stories and be heard and understood. Deconstruction can also help people identify patterns or themes in their lives that they may not have been aware of before.
#3. Choosing Different Endings
Part of narrative therapy is choosing different outcomes for our stories. In narrative therapy, we work with the idea that our stories are composed of various components, including plot, characters, setting, etc. By rewriting the outcome of our stories, we can change how we think about ourselves and our lives. This can lead to feelings of hope and empowerment. Choosing alternative endings also helps us understand the role our past experiences have played in shaping our current lives.
How It Helps Addicted Teens
Narrative therapy is an effective treatment modality for teens struggling with substance use disorders. It honors their individual journey and puts experiences into their own words.
Substance use disorders can be incredibly overwhelming for teens. Not only do they have to deal with the struggles of addiction, but they often feel like they have lost control of their lives. This therapy modality allows teens to tell their stories and be heard. It also empowers them to make healthy decisions and regain control of their lives. Narrative therapy can be a life-changing experience for teens facing substance use disorder, giving them the tools they need to recover and live healthy, happy lives.
Narrative therapy honors their stories by listening to them and using their own words to help them understand their experiences. This type of therapy can help teens feel heard and respected and provide them with a new way of looking at their lives.
In narrative therapy sessions, the therapist does not tell the teen what to do or how to feel. Instead, the therapist asks questions and encourages them to explore their own thoughts and feelings. This type of therapy can be beneficial for teens who have been through traumatic experiences, as it can help them make meaning of their experiences and develop a new perspective. Narrative therapy can also help teens to build self-esteem and to set goals for their future.
Teens who struggle with substance use disorder often feel lost and alone. Traditional therapies can be helpful but can also be daunting and alienating. Narrative therapy offers a unique and effective approach for teens struggling with addiction. This therapy emphasizes the individual’s story, helping teens make sense of their experiences and find hope for the future.
Through narrative therapy, teens can learn to identify and change the negative patterns in their lives. This can lead to greater self-awareness and understanding and ultimately to lasting recovery.
Narrative therapy can have a number of benefits for teens struggling with substance abuse disorder. Narrative therapy focuses on the stories that we tell ourselves about our lives, and how these stories can shape our behavior. Through narrative therapy, teens can learn to identify the negative stories they tell themselves about their substance use and can reframe these stories in a more positive light. This therapy can also help teens to understand the role that substances have played in their lives, and can provide a space for them to share their experiences with substance abuse. In addition, narrative therapy can help teens to develop a sense of control over their lives and can empower them to make positive changes and set goals for the future. To learn more about how this therapy can help teens struggling with substance use, call Clearfork Academy at (817) 259-2597
Originally from the Saginaw, Eagle Mountain area, Austin Davis earned a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministry from Lee University in Cleveland, TN and a Master of Arts in Counseling from The Church of God Theological Seminary. He then went on to become a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor in the State of Texas.
Austin’s professional history includes both local church ministry and clinical counseling. At a young age, he began serving youth at the local church in various capacities which led to clinical training and education. Austin gained a vast knowledge of mental health disorders while working in state and public mental health hospitals. This is where he was exposed to almost every type of diagnosis and carries this experience into the daily treatment.
Austin’s longtime passion is Clearfork Academy, a christ-centered residential facility focused on mental health and substance abuse. He finds joy and fulfillment working with “difficult” clients that challenge his heart and clinical skill set. It is his hope and desire that each resident that passes through Clearfork Academy will be one step closer to their created design.
Austin’s greatest pleasures in life are being a husband to his wife, and a father to his growing children. He serves at his local church by playing guitar, speaking and helping with tech arts. Austin also enjoys being physically active, reading, woodworking, and music.
