What is Narrative Therapy for Couples and How Can It Help Your Relationship?

Tania Gower-Bullick at Cambridge Counselling works with couples using a narrative therapy approach to identify and rewrite the stories that shape their relationship. This approach sees you as the experts in your own lives and relationship. Counsellor and couple work together to discover strengths and values that may have been overshadowed by problems and rewrite a preferred, more hopeful future for your relationship.

How might narrative therapy differ from other couple counselling approaches?

Narrative therapy doesn't position the counsellor as the expert with all the answers. Instead, the counsellor and couple work together to look at how cultural, historical, familial and personal narratives have influenced your relationship. We focus on the exceptions to problem stories, developing the rich stories that reflect your values and hopes for your relationship.

How long are couple counselling/narrative therapy sessions?

Couple counselling sessions, with Tania at Cambridge Counselling, usually last 70 minutes, however allow 90 minutes for the first session to give both partners the time to share their relationship stories and for the counsellor to understand the narratives shaping your partnership.

How many couple counselling/narrative therapy sessions will we need?

The counselling journey varies for each couple and may consist of a mix of joint and individual sessions. Some partners find that an initial series of 4 - 6 sessions provide enough time and space while others may continue longer to fully explore and strengthen recovered and new stories. Tania and you will discuss how the counselling is progressing and together you will decide on the number of sessions that works best for your situation.

What's the cost of couple counselling at Cambridge Counselling?

Individual sessions for couple counselling are priced at $145 per session or $725 for a series of 6 sessions which may be made up of a mix of couple and individual sessions.

What might happen in a couple counselling/narrative therapy session?

In couple counselling sessions at Cambridge Counselling, Tania might work with you to explore how the problems, that have brought you to counselling, have influenced your relationship and lives. Tania may invite you to discover times when the problem had less influence and together, you might develop rich descriptions of your preferred relationship story. Sessions often involve curious questioning, therapeutic letter writing, and other practices that might strengthen new relationship narratives.

Is couple counselling, using a narrative therapy approach, suitable for all relationship issues?

Narrative therapy can be particularly helpful for couples struggling with issues related to blame, cultural and familial expectations, power dynamics, identity concerns, and recurring patterns. It can also be useful for couples wanting to challenge limiting narratives about themselves or their relationship. During your initial 15 minute free phone consultation, Tania will discuss whether narrative therapy will be suitable for your specific needs.

Do we need any special preparation for couple counselling/narrative therapy?

No - the narrative therapy approach values your expertise in your own lives and relationships. Your openness to share and explore stories and perspectives is the most important thing you can bring to sessions. Tania will guide the process through curious, non-judgmental questioning designed to help unfold your relationship narratives.

How do we get started with couple counselling/narrative therapy at Cambridge Counselling?

Starting couple counselling is simple. Send an email to info@cambridgecounselling and Tania will be in touch to gather some initial information and arrange the 15 minute free phone consultation after which your initial session can be arranged. You will be on your way to growing your stories, your relationship, your lives.

Cambridge Counselling