When working with individuals in therapy, I use Narrative Therapy (NT). Here are some things you should know about the brief and enlightening process:

Narrative Therapy is a highly personal approach. Other therapists sometimes use approaches that focus only on your behavior, without paying any attention to the complex thoughts, emotions, and relationships that are connected to it. Narrative Therapy goes beyond what your concern is and into what it means for you and those around you. Narrative Therapy is built on your strengths. Your therapy experience should not be one of describing a problem, having a diagnosis stamped on it, and being asked to forever identify yourself by your illness. There is nothing wrong with you. Most of what people describe as "symptoms" are actually understandable and even adaptive responses to difficult situations. Having an illness label stuck on your forehead will not do anything to get you out of those situations. Narrative Therapy will. In Narrative Therapy, you are separate from the problem. This is an important part of the approach, and one not seen in most other therapies. Think about how we tell others we're feeling down: "I am depressed." Or nervous: "I am anxious." We tell each other that our feeling, or our problem, is us. There is nothing separating "I" from "depression," they are one and the same. Depression or anxiety is not something that is you, it is something you experience. Even in relationships, we say things like "he is argumentative" or "she is demanding." Demanding is not something someone is, it is something they do. Changing what someone is can be a challenge if it can be done at all. Changing what they do is much easier, but first we have to make that change in how we relate to the problem. Narrative Therapy can help change your relationship with Depression, or Anxiety, or Demanding, or whatever is currently visiting you, that you would like to put on a bus back where it came from.

For more information on the scientific research supporting Narrative Therapy, please visit the Research Support page.

If you are interested in scheduling a free, in-person or phone consultation to see whether therapy may be right for you, call me at 916-565-3510 or send me an email at ben@bencaldwell.com.

A Few Words about Medication

Psychotropic medications (including antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, etc.) are extremely beneficial when used properly. Research shows that medication works best when it is used for a limited period of time, and in conjunction with therapy. Medication for depression, by itself, works little better than a sugar pill. The reason for this may have something to do with the human body's remarkable adaptability.

Suppose you are in a depressing situation. Perhaps you are in a relationship where you are constantly criticized, or an injury leaves you unable to do some of the physical activities you used to enjoy. You may respond by getting depressed--that would be normal, and fully understandable, although certainly not what you would want. Then suppose you go to a doctor, who puts you on antidepressant medication. The medication is very likely to help you feel better for a while; the stuff does have an initial impact. What it does not do is change the situation you are in. That's up to you.

Medication opens a window of opportunity, temporarily giving you the energy and clarity of mind to create the changes in your life necessary to feel better over the long term. If you don't do that, the medication will slowly start losing its effects as the body adapts to it, and you risk entering the medication merry-go-round of constantly changing medications and upping doses.

In short, I'm actually quite pro-medication. I've seen it work enormous benefits for people who are willing to do the work necessary while they are on medication. It's simply important that, should your doctor recommend you begin a course of medication, you understand all that it entails, and how to make it work best for you.