The story under the story: narrative therapy with individuals in a relationship with psychosis

The current treatment for the phenomena of psychosis is predominantly bio-medical in spite of other documented causes such as abuse, trauma and substance use. This type of approach is too narrow and fails to be inclusive of social, relational and socio-economic domains of reality. There has been recent momentum within the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and at various macro levels, to include approaches that are collaborative, respectful and supportive of a person-centered path to wellness and wellbeing. Based on a social constructivist approach rooted in a critical psychiatry perspective this study explored the observations and experiences of five service providers, counsellors and social workers, in regard to how narrative therapy contributes to well-being for individuals who have a story that includes the phenomena identified as psychosis. Their experiences were captured through qualitative semi-structured interviews. The themes that emerged through the interviews were impacts and dangers, personal agency, nuanced meanings and narrative therapy as a conduit. These themes identify the work that is being done in this area and the viewpoints of social workers and counselors who utilize a social constructivist lens. These themes also provide direction as to the emerging practice of narrative therapy in this area of interest. Implications for social work practice, policy and research are discussed which provide a promising future for narrative therapy and working with the phenomena of psychosis.