About narrative therapy
Narrative Therapy is a collaborative approach that helps people separate themselves from problems and reconsider the stories that shape their lives. Below you can browse therapists who list Narrative Therapy among their approaches to learn more and find a good fit.
What to compare in entries
| Credentials | A US state licence, or membership of a professional body such as BACP or NCPS. They are different kinds of thing; each profile shows what was supplied. |
|---|---|
| Focus | Whether narrative therapy is listed as a main focus or among the wider list of areas. Entries show both. |
| Way of working | The approaches named on the entry. Two people working with the same concern can describe very different sessions. |
| Time in practice | Years in practice, as supplied. A fact to weigh, not a ranking. |
| Language | The languages sessions can be held in, where that matters to you. |
Common questions
How were these entries chosen?
Everyone listed on this page names Narrative Therapy among the approaches they told the platform they use. They are not ranked, rated or endorsed by this directory, and the order is not a recommendation.
Do I need a referral to start?
No. You can contact a therapist through their entry directly. A GP referral is not required for independent online therapy.
What if the first therapist is not right?
Changing therapist is normal and expected, and can be done at any point. One session is a small sample of how someone works.
Entries for narrative therapy
Pietro (Pete) Martucci, LPCC
Ref 37848
Calm guidance for stress and life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingRoseanne Jackson, LCSW, LCSW-R
Ref 54688
Compassionate, practical help for big life stressors
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingMark Dexter, BACP
Ref 188313
Practical therapy for mood and life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingSiyue Zhang, AASW
Ref 243585
Calm, practical therapy focused on real-life change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English, Mandarin
View listingDr. Wanetta "Nita" Hughes Bise, LPC
Ref 7050
Therapist focused on practical support
Works with: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Parenting Languages: English
View listingRoselyn Robertson, BACP
Ref 202372
Sensitive, practical counselling for life’s difficult moments
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingJonetta Wakely, LPC
Ref 124539
Practical, listening-focused counseling for life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingWendy Mayfield, BACP
Ref 100144
Practical, steady support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingJonathan Stuart, NCPS
Ref 175272
Practical, respectful support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingKianni Johnson, LMHC
Ref 279980
Practical therapy for strong emotions
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Anger Languages: English
View listingWendi Makus, LPC
Ref 48129
Practical therapy for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingLiisa Hiltunen, PACFA
Ref 317033
Calm practical therapy with coaching focus
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingShawn Alyea, LPC
Ref 14872
Compassionate counselor guiding practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Intimacy-related issues Languages: English
View listingJennifer Blaney-Sutton, BACP
Ref 225637
Collaborative psychotherapist for adult challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Depression Languages: English
View listingEthel-Caroline Miman, AASW
Ref 259803
Gentle, practical therapy for life’s big challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingNicholas Taylor, BACP
Ref 242465
Practical person-centred counselling for everyday challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Depression Languages: English
View listingKeith Chilton, LMFT
Ref 106189
Experienced marriage and family therapist
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingMarilee Frazier, LPC
Ref 257654
Compassionate counselor for adults seeking practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingJennifer Mcpherson (Norman), BACP
Ref 161239
Experienced relationship and trauma counsellor
Works with: Relationship, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingFarah Southwell, LPC
Ref 203059
Practical, experienced therapist for life’s hard moments
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English, Haitian Creole
View listingApril Vandiver, LPC
Ref 229121
Compassionate counselor helping people move forward
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Parenting Languages: English
View listingStacey Sugar, MD, LCPC, LPCC
Ref 2629
Relationship-focused therapist who values authentic change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingDr. Heidi Duong, LMHC
Ref 185659
Helping people rebuild meaning and balance
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Eating Languages: English
View listingIjeoma Nweze, BACP, NCPS
Ref 203170
Compassionate counsellor for everyday challenges
Works with: Relationship, Family, Parenting Languages: English, Igbo
View listingRutanya Simon, LICSW, LCSW
Ref 124510
Practical, compassionate therapy for real-life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Family Languages: English
View listingDawn Meadow, LPC
Ref 76208
Calm, practical counseling for lifes hard moments
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Parenting Languages: English
View listingJosephine Sultana, AASW
Ref 309775
Compassionate social worker blending therapy and lifestyle care
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Sleeping Languages: English
View listingTodd Helm, LPC
Ref 325863
Practical support for stress, relationships, and men's issues
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingMaria "Patti" Lorenzo, LCPC
Ref 26902
A practical, compassionate approach to emotional change
Works with: Trauma and abuse, Self esteem, Coping with life changes Languages: English
View listingEdward Mcguinness, BACP
Ref 263954
Practical, respectful support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingJoyce Voltaire Huertas, LCSW
Ref 94229
Practical, relationship-focused therapy for life transitions
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingDebby Sawyer, LIMHP
Ref 236392
Experienced, practical help for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingCatherine Kearns, BACP
Ref 183397
Practical, person-focused therapy for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingDonald Henderson, LMHC
Ref 68596
Practical support for trauma and life change
Works with: Trauma and abuse, Grief, Anger Languages: English
View listingLorelle Busby, BACP
Ref 182380
Practical counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJustine Gibbs, BACP
Ref 151484
Compassionate practical support for life changes
Works with: Relationship, Family, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingHenry "Jay" Swedlaw, LPCC, LCMHC
Ref 222
Compassionate, practical therapy for real life
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Relationship Languages: English
View listingCarolyn Faucette, LISW
Ref 143321
Compassionate, practical therapy for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Grief Languages: English
View listingJamie Daugherty, LPC
Ref 62210
Practical support for managing life and emotions
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingSheri Bell-O'Gara, LCSW
Ref 74193
Compassionate trauma-informed clinical social worker
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingMarguerita Van Der Meer, ACA
Ref 235582
Mindful, values-based counselling
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Family Languages: English
View listingStephanie Greene, LISW
Ref 25921
Practical, person-focused therapy for life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Eating Languages: English
View listingDawn Maria Spradley, LPC
Ref 212130
Calm, practical support for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingNicole Porter, LCSW, CSW
Ref 301025
Therapist focused on practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingTatyana Sibthorpe, BACP
Ref 151265
Compassionate, practical therapy for life changes
Works with: Addictions, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Russian
View listingLolitia Medley, LPC
Ref 189041
Practical skills for emotional resilience
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingFred Sacklow, LCSW
Ref 49443
Calm, practical help for life’s hard moments
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingDr. LaQuanda Wiggins, LPC
Ref 18653
Compassionate counselor focused on practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Anger Languages: English
View listingMore about narrative therapy
What Narrative Therapy Is and the Principles Behind It
Narrative Therapy centers on the idea that the stories we tell about ourselves shape how we experience the world. You come to therapy with narratives formed by culture, family, relationships and personal history, and those narratives influence how you think, feel and act. In Narrative Therapy, the focus is on identifying those stories, exploring how they were created, and opening space for new, more helpful narratives to emerge. The approach treats problems as separate from the person - meaning the issue is something you experience, not a fixed trait that defines you.
Key principles include collaboration between you and the practitioner, curiosity about how stories formed, and attention to the social and cultural contexts that give these stories meaning. Rather than locating blame within an individual, Narrative Therapy examines influences like social expectations, power dynamics and historical patterns. The goal is to help you reclaim agency over your life story and identify values, skills and resources that may have been overshadowed by limiting narratives.
What Issues Narrative Therapy Is Commonly Used For
Narrative Therapy is often chosen for concerns that involve identity, relationships and the meanings you attach to difficult experiences. People explore this approach when they want to change unhelpful self-definitions, work through the impact of loss or trauma without being reduced to it, adjust to life transitions, or address persistent patterns in relationships. It is also used when cultural, social or familial expectations feel constraining and you want to examine how those external stories influence your internal sense of self.
You may find Narrative Therapy helpful if you are dealing with anxiety that is tied to a particular self-story, ongoing relationship conflicts that repeat in predictable ways, or life changes that make you question who you are. The approach can be applied in individual work, couples therapy and family conversations, because it emphasizes dialogue, reflection and the creation of new meanings that fit your values and goals.
What a Typical Narrative Therapy Session Looks Like
Sessions tend to be conversational and exploratory. You and the therapist work together to map the story you are living by - where it came from, who supported its development, and how it shows up in your choices and relationships. The therapist listens for exceptions to the problem story - moments when you acted in ways that contradict the limiting narrative - and helps you notice resources and strengths that were present but perhaps overlooked.
Expect questions that invite reflection rather than directives. A practitioner might ask you to describe the problem as if it were an external entity, to highlight times when the problem had less influence, or to consider the origins of a belief. You may be invited to create a written or spoken account of an alternative story, to document evidence of change, or to involve supportive people in conversations that reinforce new meanings. Sessions often emphasize curiosity, respect for your expertise about your life, and collaborative sense-making rather than a therapist-led diagnosis or fixed agenda.
How Narrative Therapy Differs from Other Approaches
Narrative Therapy differs from some common modalities in its emphasis on story, language and context rather than on symptom reduction alone. Where cognitive-behavioral approaches focus on identifying and changing specific thoughts and behaviors, Narrative Therapy puts attention on the broader narratives that organize those thoughts. The work is less about correcting cognitive distortions and more about re-authoring the story you live within.
Compared with insight-oriented therapies that explore inner drives or developmental roots, Narrative Therapy foregrounds social and cultural influences and collaborative meaning-making. It does not aim to locate pathology inside you; instead it positions problems as external, shaped by relationships, institutions and societal norms. This framing can lessen blame and open practical paths for change, such as altering the stories that sustain a pattern or creating new practices that reflect the values you want to embody.
What to expect in tone and pace
The tone is typically reflective and respectful, with a focus on co-constructing knowledge about your life. Progress may look like small shifts in how you talk about yourself, decisions that better match your values, or changes in relationships as different narratives take hold. The pace can vary - some people find rapid reframing helpful, while others prefer a slower, deeper exploration of how stories developed over time.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Narrative Therapy
Narrative Therapy can be a good match for people who want to understand and change the stories that shape their identity and relationships. If you are motivated to reflect on how cultural, familial or social messages have influenced your self-view, this approach offers tools to separate you from limiting labels and to construct alternative narratives that align with your goals. It is often suitable for individuals who value collaboration, self-reflection and a non-pathologizing view of difficulty.
People who have experienced stigma, complex relationship dynamics, or identity conflicts often find the externalizing stance - viewing the problem as something that affects you rather than defines you - to be freeing. That said, Narrative Therapy can be integrated with other approaches when addressing immediate symptom relief or specific behavioral goals. You may choose this approach if you want therapy that centers your voice and recognizes the broader social forces shaping your experience.
How to Find a Therapist Who Uses Narrative Therapy
When you search for someone who practices Narrative Therapy, look for therapists who list Narrative Therapy among their approaches and who describe a collaborative, narrative-focused style in their profiles. Read about their emphasis on stories, values and social context to see whether their description resonates with what you want from therapy. Pay attention to details about the populations they work with, languages spoken, and any notes about work with families, couples or particular life stages.
In an initial conversation you can ask how the therapist describes the narrative approach in practice - for example, how they externalize problems, involve others if needed, and support the development of new stories. Discussing their typical session structure and how they collaborate with clients will help you assess fit. You may also want to consider practical factors such as session format, session length, and whether their approach aligns with your values and goals. The aim is to find someone whose style and description of Narrative Therapy resonate with you, so you feel heard and understood when you begin the work of re-authoring your life story.
Finding the right match can make a meaningful difference in how you engage with the process. Take time to read profiles and descriptions, and choose a practitioner whose language reflects curiosity about your story and respect for your expertise. That conversational stance is central to Narrative Therapy and can help you move toward clearer, more enlivening narratives about who you are and what you want from your life.