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One of our approaches
Narrative Therapy
Narrative Therapy looks at the stories you tell about yourself and your life, and helps you notice the parts those stories leave out. The problem is the problem. You are not the problem.
Your story, told your way. We listen for the parts that haven’t been heard yet.
How it works
The idea behind it
We all carry a story about who we are. Sometimes that story gets narrowed down by a hard experience or by what other people have told us: “I’m the anxious one,” “I always let people down,” “I’m not the kind of person who copes.” Over time the story starts to feel like the whole truth.
Narrative Therapy helps you:
- see the problem as something separate from you, so it’s easier to look at
- notice the moments that don’t fit the old story, the times you handled things, cared for someone, or held on
- build a fuller, more accurate story that has room for those moments
- decide which values and hopes you want the next chapter to be shaped by
It’s collaborative and respectful. You’re the expert on your own life. The clinician asks the questions that help you see it from a new angle.
In session
What a session looks like
Sessions are mostly conversation. Your clinician might ask you to give the problem a name, and talk about it as if it were sitting in the room with you, rather than as a fact about who you are. That small shift often loosens its grip.
You’ll also spend time on the exceptions: times the problem had less hold, and what was different about them. Some people write parts of their story down between sessions, or bring a letter, a photo, or a memory that matters. Nothing is required.
Frequently asked questions
Is this covered by insurance?
The approach doesn’t change the coverage. Most extended health plans cover sessions with a Registered Counselling Therapist or Registered Social Worker. Call the number on your benefits card and ask. We bill most major insurers directly, so you only pay what your plan doesn’t cover; otherwise you get a receipt after every session.
How many sessions will it take?
It depends on you and what you’re working on. By session two you’ll have a written plan, and every few sessions we check in with the same short questions so you can see what’s changing. You can stop at any time.
Does it work online?
Yes. We offer every approach in person in Dartmouth and by secure video anywhere in Nova Scotia. If one of them works better in person, we’ll tell you.
Does it cost more?
No. Whichever approach we use, it’s included in your standard session fee. See fees and insurance.
Ready when you are.
You don’t need to choose an approach before you book. That’s our job, together with you, in the first two sessions.