Stories of Our Bodies in Narrative Therapy

Abstract

The aim of this capstone was to explore how our stories of our bodies can be incorporated into narrative therapy. People experience lives in their bodies and bodily experiences need consideration. The growing influence of neuroscientific ideas about how lived experience impacts both our bodies and our brains is influencing psychological discourse and practice, particularly with regard to how trauma experiences are understood and responded to. Somatic psychotherapy approaches have emerged in response to these ideas. Narrative therapy discourse and practice does not separate out bodily experience because it is viewed as being inextricably linked to story, but new narrative approaches are emerging that emphasize that need to give explicit attention to affective and bodily experiences. These new approaches are utilizing neuroscientific discoveries as rationale for these expanded practices, including rationale for the inclusion of mindfulness practices. Following a review of the literature on the themes of somatic psychotherapies, narrative therapy and our bodies, and integration of narrative therapy with somatic approaches and neuroscience, there is a discussion on key findings and a conclusion regarding the aim of this capstone.