You Are the Cartographer: What to Expect from Narrative Therapy
Imagine, you and I are cartographers (map makers), and we are setting off on a great voyage together.
While I may be an experienced traveller, but I haven’t been to the particular region you are taking me to. You know the terrain well, these lands are the lands that you grew up on, where you spend every day.
When we meet, I’ll ask for you to bring a general map with you, so I can get a lay of the land before we go out on our journey together. This map represents all of your life and experiences that have brought you to this moment.
You arrive and knock at my door. I welcome you in and you lay out your map onto my table. Together we will stand back and look at what is out in front of us.
Well-travelled paths: Places you are familiar, lands you’ve travelled often and mapped out in detail
Scary regions: Places you avoid all together
Uncharted territories: Places you’ve never brought anyone else to before.
Rest stops: Sanctuaries where you go to recharge.
ALL of these places are important and you get to decide where you want to go.
Setting off of the Trail
When we’ve spent the time looking over the map, we can start off on our journey. I’ll bring my backpack (full of tools and things), and you bring the map.
We might start off on one trail, and then head down another. I’ll ask you to describe to me what you see. I’ll often ask at the beginning if there was somewhere particular that you want to visit (though we can always pause mid-way through to see if it feels helpful, and if not, we can always turn around). Every-time we meet, and we are expanding the detail of your map.
Why Is Map-Making So Valuable?
It makes the scary sections less intimidating.
It highlights hidden areas you might want to return to later.
It reveals shortcuts and direct routes between places that can cut your travel time in half.
It gives you something tangible to share with those closest to you, if you choose.
Above all, you get to decide if and why this journey is valuable to you.
Looking for more information on Narrative Therapy? I highly recommend Alice Morgan's book, "What is Narrative Therapy?"
With love,
Chantelle
