A Systematic Review of Narrative Therapy in Social Work Practice

Abstract

This present exploratory systematic review analyses of those articles that have approached narrative therapy as a model of intervention in the practice of social work. The main results comprise the need to carry out conversations that allow the emergence of alternative stories; the consideration of social stigma and self-stigma suffered by people through the intervention of the medical model, based on diagnosis and treatment; the presence of results where people choose their preferred life; the deconstruction of concepts such as oppression, drug addiction or the label suffered by people diagnosed with a disease in a certain sociocultural context; the importance of the cultural sensitivity of the professionals in the helping relationship; the participation of people as experts in their situation; or the benefits of some techniques such as life history. Recommendations have been added in this regard.