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Reauthoring is a powerful process that can significantly impact positive mental health and identity development. Adolescence is a critical period for self-discovery and identity formation. During this time, young people establish beliefs about who they are, their values, and their place in the world.
Narrative therapy is a style of therapy that empowers individuals to become experts in their own lives. It focuses on the stories we develop and carry with us throughout our lives. It contributes to building positive identity and mental health by widening perspectives and encouraging individuals to consider alternative stories anchored in their strengths, their actions against the problem and future hopes. This process helps people challenge their problems and envision different outcomes.
By incorporating narrative strategies into child protection practices and residential services, we are able to de-centre the system and protect the rights of the child with truly child-centred practice.
Our integrated narrative strategies foster self-awareness, empower individuals to re-author their own identities, and promote mental well-being by transforming limiting narratives into more constructive ones. We have seen significant outcomes such as elevated agency, increased independence and improved mental health with these practices.
Amplification of voice is limited in system-centred practices. By adapting our intake process, safety planning and responses, session reporting and transitions to include narrative strategies, we have de-centred the system and now guide care teams to identify with the young person their strengths, values, hopes and dreams. We then integrate these into every step along the care journey. This has resulted in rapid progress, increased regulation, decreased escalation and elevated agency for our young people.
Amplify The Voices of Young People
Our processes support young people in care to construct life-affirming stories that contribute to a positive and functional identity.
These narratives empower individuals to navigate life’s challenges, make informed decisions, and maintain resilience. Early development of a powerful identity has lasting effects on mental health throughout adulthood.
Our intake systems, Child Centred Response Plans, Safety Plans, Care Discussions and Session Reports all utilise narrative strategies to intentionally support positive identity and mental health.
Executive Leader Wellbeing and Enrichment
Instilling ethical, impactful, and forward-thinking practices, to deliver meaningful trauma-informed outcomes for Families, Young People, and the Community Sector.
The Arches Foundation would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work. We would also like to pay respect to the elders, past, present, and emerging.