A narrative approach to strengthening child and family relationships

Abstract

This chapter outlines the narrative approach to counselling, with a focus on reducing the harm of relational aggression and bullying. Bullying occurs in a relationship of power imbalance. The narrative approach seeks to empower children or family members to identify and name a “problem” that is interfering with healthy relationships using their own language. This sets the issue as separate from the identity of the person. As the history of the narrative is traced, times when the problem was not powerful in achieving its goal are explored. Names are given to the characteristics that were behind these “unique outcomes.” The practitioner listens deeply and enquires in a way that helps people explore as experts of their own experience, and to name the problem, unique outcomes, and a desired outcome or solution. Learning tasks are provided to help scaffold the distance between the presenting problem and desired outcome, supporting understanding and development. This is important to building personal agency, preparing children and families to deal with crisis and disaster. Consistent with the systems approach to school-based family counselling, scaffolding may be provided by family, peers, school staff, and community members. This chapter introduces the reader to the basic principles of the narrative approach and refers the reader to a wider range of resources.