Assignment: Experiential Versus Narrative Family Therapies

Although experiential therapy and narrative  therapy are both used in family therapy, these therapeutic approaches have many differences in theory and application. As you assess families and develop treatment plans, you must consider these differences and their potential impact on clients. For this Assignment, you compare Experiential and Narrative Family Therapy.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

· Compare experiential family therapy to narrative family therapy

· Justify recommendations for family therapy

To prepare:

· Review this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the insights they provide on experiential and family therapies.

The Assignment

In a 2- to 3-page paper, address the following: 

· Summarize the key points of both experiential family therapy and narrative family therapy. 

· Compare experiential family therapy to narrative family therapy, noting the strengths and weakness of each.

· Provide a description of a family that you think experiential family therapy would be appropriate, explain why, and justify your response using the Learning Resources. 

Note: The College of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references.  

Part 2: Family Genogram

Develop a genogram for the client family you selected. The genogram should extend back at least three generations (parents, grandparents, and great grandparents).

Required Readings( need 3 references).

American Nurses Association. (2014). Psychiatric-mental health nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

• Standard 5B “Health Teaching and Health      Promotion” (pages 55-56)

Cohn, A. S. (2014). Romeo and Julius: A narrative therapy intervention for sexual-minority couples. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 25(1), 73-77. doi:10.1080/08975353.2014.881696

Escudero, V., Friedlander, M. L., Boogmans, E., & Loots, G. (2012). Alliance rupture and repair in conjoint family therapy: An exploratory study. Psychotherapy, 49(1), 26-37. doi:10.1037/a0026747

Freedman, J. (2014). Witnessing and positioning: Structuring narrative therapy with families and couples. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 35(1), 20-30. doi:10.1002/anzf.1043

Nichols, M., & Davis, S. D. (2020). The essentials of family therapy (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

• Chapter 7, “Experiential      Family Therapy” (pp. 105-118
• Chapter 12, “Narrative Therapy” (pp. 189-201)

Phipps, W. D., & Vorster, C. (2011). Narrative therapy: A return to the intrapsychic perspective. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 22(2), 128-147. doi:10.1080/08975353.2011.578036

Saltzman, W. R., Pynoos, R. S., Lester, P., Layne, C. M., & Beardslee, W. R. (2013). Enhancing family resilience through family narrative co-construction. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 16(3), 294-310.  doi:10.1007/s10567-013-0142-2

Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice. New York, NY: Springer.

• “Genograms” pp. 137-142