About Narrative Therapy
Where Conversations Spark Transformations
Narrative Therapy in Newport Beach
What is narrative therapy?
If you’ve found this page because you’re wondering what narrative therapy is, you’re in the right place. Narrative therapy helps you explore the stories you’ve been carrying—and begin to re-author them in ways that feel more aligned, empowering, and true to who you are.
It’s a collaborative approach that honors your lived experience and the meaning you make of your life. If you feel stuck in an old story about yourself or your relationships, this work offers a way to explore those patterns with curiosity and compassion—without treating you as the problem.
I offer narrative therapy in Newport Beach and work with individuals and couples throughout Orange County, as well as via telehealth across California. The clients I work with find narrative therapy especially helpful during times of life transitions, personal growth, or when something no longer feels quite like it fits.
If this approach resonates with you, please reach out to schedule a free consultation.
Your Story Matters
Narrative therapy is grounded in the belief that we make meaning through the stories we tell about our lives. These stories shape how we see ourselves, our relationships, and what we believe is possible. In therapy, we get curious about those stories — where they came from, how they’ve helped, and where they may be limiting you now.
Here are some main principles that resonate deeply with me:
You are the expert on your life. It’s not my job to give advice or tell you what to do. It is my job to ask meaningful questions that illuminate the knowing you already have within.
You are not the problem, or problems. The problem is the problem — and we’ll explore them together.
We live by the stories we tell ourselves. Those stories shape our identity, our relationships, and our possibilities.
Many of our stories come from others. Family, culture, media, and past experiences influence how we see ourselves — often in ways that don’t serve us.
There are always other stories. Even when negative narratives dominate, there are always stories of strength, resilience, and wisdom waiting to be discovered.
Re-authoring your story brings freedom. When you give voice to the deeper truths of who you are, the old stories lose their grip and power.
And above all — new stories are always possible. Even in the hardest seasons.
Narrative Therapy Might Be a Good Fit for You If…
Feel stuck in repeating patterns of anxiety, overwhelm, or self-doubt
Are navigating a life transition or identity shift and feel uncertain about what’s next
Are looking for something more intentional than traditional talk therapy
Want to separate who you are from the challenges you’re facing
Feel a desire to find (or reclaim) your voice
Aren’t sure why you’re feeling this way, but know you want things to feel different
If even one of these resonates, you’re not alone.
Ways Narrative Therapy Can Help
Clients Who Engage in the Process Often Notice:
Re-authoring and healing of stories connected to past wounds, traumas, or regrets
A deeper understanding of yourself — your stories, patterns, behaviors, and relationships
Improved relationships, including how you relate to others and to yourself
Greater awareness of your strengths, skills, and inner resources
Reconnection with your inner wisdom and increased clarity about what you want and need
More energy and a renewed sense of purpose
Increased self-confidence in yourself and the possibilities available to you
Frequently Asked Questions about Narrative Therapy
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Narrative therapy is a collaborative, strengths-based approach that explores the stories you tell about your life and experiences. Rather than seeing you as the problem, narrative therapy helps separate you from the challenges you’re facing and opens space for new meanings, perspectives, and possibilities.
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In narrative therapy, we get curious about the stories that have shaped how you see yourself, your relationships, and your life. Through thoughtful conversation and reflection, we explore where those stories came from, how they’ve helped, and how they may be limiting you now — while identifying alternative stories rooted in your values, strengths, and intentions.
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Narrative therapy can be helpful for anxiety, self-doubt, life transitions, identity concerns, relationship challenges, and feeling stuck in repeating patterns. It’s especially supportive for people who want therapy that feels collaborative, reflective, and meaning-centered rather than directive or problem-focused.
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Narrative therapy can be very effective for anxiety and depression, particularly when those experiences feel tied to harsh self-stories, perfectionism, or long-standing beliefs about yourself. Rather than focusing only on symptoms, narrative therapy explores how these experiences have shaped your story — and how new relationships to them can emerge.
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The length of therapy varies depending on your goals, what you’re navigating, and how you want to work together. Some people notice meaningful shifts in a short-term frame, while others choose to engage more deeply over time. We’ll collaborate to find a pace and structure that feels right for you.
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Narrative therapy differs from traditional talk therapy by emphasizing collaboration, curiosity, and meaning-making rather than advice-giving or diagnosis. You are viewed as the expert on your own life, and therapy focuses on exploring your values, strengths, and lived experience rather than “fixing” you.
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Yes. I offer narrative therapy in Newport Beach and work with individuals and couples throughout Orange County, including Costa Mesa, Irvine, Corona del Mar and beyond.
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Yes. I offer secure online narrative therapy for clients throughout California. Telehealth can be a flexible and effective option, especially for those balancing busy schedules or preferring therapy from the comfort of home.