Narrative Therapy of Psychotherapy for Depression: A Case Study of Esther

Running head: COUNSELLING
COUNSELLING
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
The theory of narrative therapy of psychotherapy refers to the issues that are related to
the assistance that psychotherapists tend to alleviate the mental conditions of the patient through
highlighting the identification of the knowledge and the values that they possess. The theory
disbelieves in the discovery of the experiences from the surroundings that are faced by a person
(McMahon, 2016). The following paper attempts to throw light on the counselling approaches
that should be implemented in order to help a patient who is depressed and negative about her
ownself. Esther, an unemployed woman who is in her fifties, is suffering from the condition
where she has been loathing herself due to her own physical conditions and her financial
conditions. The paper attempts to implement the narrative therapy of psychotherapy from the
narrative viewpoint. The paper presents a discussion on the ways a counsellor might help Esther
as well as discusses the advantages and the disadvantages of the approach as well.
Goals and principles of narrative therapy of psychotherapy
The theory of narrative therapy of psychotherapy refers to the improvement of the sense
of the reality that is individual to the concerned person. The theory tends to deal with the fact
that the meaning of the life of the individual is constructed from the experiences that he or she
gathers form his life activities rather than discovering them from the surroundings that they have
been facing (McMahon & Patton, 2016). The narrative approach towards the clinical psychology
refers to the active nature of the participation of the concerned patient in the matters that they
tend to seek help in (Arthur, 2016). The major goals of the narrative therapy of psychotherapy
refer to the factors that are related to the creation of the optimism within the concerned patient

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and thereby helping in the development of resolution of the issues that are presented by the given
patient (Brott, 2016). The approach towards the narrative therapy of psychotherapy deals with
the construction of the solution of the issues that are presented by the concerned victim from the
discussion on the past experiences of the concerned person. The narrative therapists tend to
implement the factors that are related to the hopes and the wishes of the person (McMahon,
2016). The major principle as discussed by the narrative therapists tend to implement the factors
that are related to the development of the psyche of the patient with the help of the discussion on
the positive aspects rather than the negative aspects that they have been facing within their
lifetimes. The narrative approaches towards the psychotherapy helps in the upbringing of the
psychological factors within the patient with the help of the discussion with the counsellor (Reid,
2016). The counsellor is observed to play the role of a confidante whom the concerned patient
would reveal the working of his or her psyche. Pryor and Bright (2016) state that the narrative
therapy of psychotherapy would assist the development of the psychological aspects of the
patient with a discussion on the issues that have been haunting the minds of the patient thereby
leading to the psychologically unbalanced situations for the person.
Understanding of Esther
The patient in discussion, Esther is suffering from the condition where she has been
loathing herself due to her own physical conditions and her financial conditions. She is a woman
who is in her fifties and has lost her job as well. The present jobless and unemployed condition
of the patient in discussion, Esther has led to the depressed condition of the person. The person
herself is able to identify the changes that she has undergone. She reveals that she used to be
happier in the past with her own achievements. She discusses that she had been proud of herself
and her achievements and had always been eager to take up work. She also reveals that during

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the initial days of her unemployment, she had been enjoying the greater amount of the leisure
time that was available to her. However, as the tenure of her unemployment increased, she began
to fall into the pit of depression. The feeling that she would never again be employed took over
her and she started disliking herself due to the unemployed condition of hers. She further stated
that she was quite apprehensive of securing herself a job in the future and had started to question
her own capabilities and dedication towards her work. The self-doubt that had started to develop
within her had led to the depression on the part of the concerned person, Esther. This in turn had
led to the growth of the anxiety within her and thereby resulted in the loss of her self-confidence.
The counsellor in this case should be advised to implement the narrative therapy of
psychotherapy in this case (Charmaz & Henwood, 2017). This would help Esther to look into the
positive aspects of her life and thus motivate her to invest more into the job searches as well as
have a better look inside her so that she might trust her own instincts over the situation that she
has been facing in her life.
Work of counsellor
The counsellor is advised to put forth a discussion on the past achievements of the
patient, Esther in this case. The major focus of the counsellor should be centered on the
achievements of Esther. The counsellor should be advised to discuss the conditions that help in
boosting the energy of the person as well as helps in the developing the psyche of Esther. The
implementation of the factors of narrative therapy that are related to the hopes and the wishes of
the person concerned, Esther (Vall Castelló, 2016). The counsellor should be taking major care
of the issues that have been affecting Esther like the depression that she has been facing due to
the loss of her jobs. This would assist in the development of the psyche of Esther with the help of
the discussion on the positive aspects rather than the negative aspects that they have been facing