ABSTRACT
A narrative approach seeks to be respectful and non-blaming and centres people as the experts in their lives. It views problems and adversity as being separate from the person and highlights the skills, competencies, values and abilities that people have that can help them to reduce the influence of problems in their lives. Fundamental to using a narrative approach is maintaining an attitude of curiosity towards the person one is working with and being willing to ask questions to which one doesn’t know the answers. A central idea within narrative psychology is that we are continually engaged in interpreting and making sense of our experiences. When a narrative approach to life story work is used, the young person’s story is acknowledged, explored and clarified, but there is also an emphasis on exploring together the overlooked, forgotten stories around the young person’s strengths and the resilience they have shown under difficult, often horrendous, circumstances.
