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The Group Guide
Connecting people to community
Client and Family Education
What to know about

Narrative therapy groups

Narrative therapy, developed by Michael White and David Epston, starts from one premise: people are not their problems. A problem is external, shaped by social and cultural forces, so instead of "I am depressed" you might explore how depression shows up and what you want to do about it. The goal is to re-author a preferred story of who you are. In a group, other members witness that re-authoring, which amplifies it.

Who it's for, and who it's not

A fit if your struggles feel tied to cultural, social, or relational forces.
Strong if deficit-focused or diagnostic frameworks have felt alienating.
Not a skill-building program or crisis care. In crisis? Call or text 988.

What it's used for

Depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, identity concerns, and relationship difficulties.
The effects of oppression, discrimination, and social marginalization.
A natural fit for Indigenous, immigrant, refugee, and LGBTQ+ communities.
What to expect
1Sessions vary, usually with no fixed curriculum, worksheets, or homework.
2Curious, non-expert questions to explore the problem's influence and its limits.
3Members take turns as storyteller and witness. Collaborative and attentive to culture.

Narrative therapy's evidence base is smaller and more varied than CBT's, but supportive.

A 2024 review found narrative therapy reduced depressive symptoms in adults with somatic disorders versus control.1
A 2025 trial found an online narrative intervention cut PTSD, stress, anxiety, and depression in nurses.2
Much of its support is practice-based and qualitative, by design as much as circumstance.
Making the most of it
Bring your own words. You're the author; the group witnesses.
The problem isn't you. Separating the two is the work.
Witnessing helps. Hearing what resonated lands deeply.
Questions to ask before you join
1What is the leader's narrative therapy training?
2Is it a brief workshop, or an ongoing open group?
3What does it cost? Is there a free or sliding scale option?

Ready to find a group?

Browse 2,000+ therapy and support groups in all 50 states.

Free to browse  ·  No account needed  ·  thegroupguide.com

In crisis? Call or text 988 (US Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 24/7).

The Group Guide is a directory, not a clinic. This handout is general education, not medical or mental health advice. Listings are written by group leaders and are not endorsements. Confirm details, cost, and fit with any group you contact. Sources on page 2.

The Group Guide
Connecting people to community
Client and Family Education

Sources

Narrative therapy groups · references keyed to the numbers on page 1.

1Hu, G., Han, B., Gains, H., & Jia, Y. Effectiveness of narrative therapy for depressive symptoms in adults with somatic disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology (2024).

2Xue, M., Yu, P., Gu, Z., & Sun, Y. Online narrative therapy intervention improves PTSD symptoms, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression in nurses: a randomized controlled trial. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry (2025).

In crisis? Call or text 988 (US Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 24/7).

The Group Guide is a directory, not a clinic. This handout is general education, not medical or mental health advice. Listings are written by group leaders and are not endorsements. Confirm details, cost, and fit with any group you contact.