We are all born into stories—stories told by our families, our culture, and our past experiences. Sometimes, these stories become “problem-saturated,” convincing us that we are “depressed,” “a failure,” or “unworthy.” These narratives can feel like a life sentence, trapping us in a version of ourselves that feels small and powerless.
At Cedar Tree Counseling in Tulsa, OK, we utilize Narrative Therapy to help you reclaim the pen. This respectful, non-blaming approach views you as the expert on your own life and sees your problems as separate from your identity. Our goal is to help you deconstruct the stories that are holding you back and co-author a new narrative rooted in your values, strengths, and agency.
The Core Mantra: “The Person is Not the Problem”
The foundational principle of Narrative Therapy is a radical shift in perspective: The person is not the problem; the problem is the problem.
In traditional models, a person might say, “I am an anxious person.” In Narrative Therapy, we shift that to, “Anxiety has been trying to run my life lately.” By externalizing the issue, we create the psychological space necessary to investigate the problem’s tactics, its history, and—most importantly—its weaknesses.
The Narrative Clinical Toolkit
To help you re-author your life, our therapists at Cedar Tree use several sophisticated narrative techniques:
1. Externalizing Conversations
We give the problem a name and a persona. By treating “The Critic,” “The Cloud of Sadness,” or “The Wall of Fear” as an external entity, you can stop blaming yourself and start strategizing against the problem’s influence.
2. Deconstruction
We examine the “Dominant Stories” you’ve been told by society or your upbringing (e.g., “I have to be perfect to be loved” or “Men shouldn’t show emotion”). We take these stories apart to see whose interests they serve and whether they actually fit the person you want to be.
3. Finding “Sparkling Moments” (Unique Outcomes)
Even when a problem is dominant, it never wins 100% of the time. We look for the “glitches” in the problem’s power—moments where you stood up to it, ignored its advice, or acted with courage. These “Sparkling Moments” are the seeds of your new, preferred story.
4. The Landscape of Action & Consciousness
We move between what you did (action) and what that says about what you value (consciousness). This helps turn a small win into a “thick description” of a resilient identity.