In Narrative Therapy deconstruction, what does the therapist typically ask the client to describe?

In Narrative Therapy deconstruction, what does the therapist typically ask the client to describe?

• A. Describe what you see when the problem is present and what you would see when it goes away.
• B. Describe your past traumas in detail.
• C. List all possible causes of the problem.
• D. Identify who is to blame for the problem.

Answer: (A)

In Narrative Therapy, deconstruction centers on how the client’s story of the problem shapes experience and identity, and it uses contrasts to reveal possibilities for change. The therapist typically invites the client to describe what life looks like when the problem is present and what it would be like if the problem were gone. This helps externalize the problem, notice its real influence, and identify moments when the problem hasn’t dominated the client’s life—shifting toward a preferred narrative. Describing past traumas in detail, listing all possible causes, or blaming others aren’t the focus of this approach, which aims to map the problem’s effects and explore lives beyond its grip.

In Narrative Therapy, deconstruction centers on how the client’s story of the problem shapes experience and identity, and it uses contrasts to reveal possibilities for change. The therapist typically invites the client to describe what life looks like when the problem is present and what it would be like if the problem were gone. This helps externalize the problem, notice its real influence, and identify moments when the problem hasn’t dominated the client’s life—shifting toward a preferred narrative. Describing past traumas in detail, listing all possible causes, or blaming others aren’t the focus of this approach, which aims to map the problem’s effects and explore lives beyond its grip.