Narrative career therapy: From the problem-saturated story to a preferred story and career path

Abstract

This article centres on the specific elaboration of the concept of ‘narrative’ in the philosophy and therapeutic techniques of Michael White, and on their application in narrative career therapy. The narrative career therapy model, developed by the author, aims to assist clients in their career deliberations through the life cycle. Various narrative approaches make use of the metaphor of narrative to describe the constructions that organise individual identities and reconstructing them in the counselling process through the addition of alternative, more optimistic and positive meanings. However, as this article seeks to demonstrate, while at times, the various narrative approaches adopt identical terminology, its meaning differs as applied in distinct models of career counselling and therapy. Initial outcome assessments of this model conducted by the author have been promising, with clients reporting an enhanced quality of life in the areas addressed in therapy and a satisfying career choice. This model features two additional tools adapted by the author: a qualitative questionnaire for clarifying career preferences and a narrative use of the career genogram. The article reviews White’s practices and their application to narrative career therapy as implemented with diverse populations in a range of therapeutic settings and in a training and supervision programme for psychologists and counsellors.