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Narrative Therapy and Re-authoring Trauma
Turn wounds into wisdom by reshaping the story you carry about yourself
One Sunday in Sept. 2008 I met with a group of women at the Dance Theater Workshop in NYC to facilitate a full day therapeutic workshop. Being a trauma informed therapist and survivor inspired me to address the plight of the archetypal orphan child and the challenges she faces with discovering a personal path of survival, as she encounters the internal and external dark forces of despair and alienation in her life.
The workshop included writing, dance, meditation, improvisation, and ritual. Thereafter, I designed several more three-hour workshops where we collaboratively explored and examined the most feared, dormant parts of ourselves, as well as our deepest aspirations. Eventually fairytale became a vehicle for infusing our personal stories with mythical imagery.
Being that anguish and darkness are common elements in fairytale, as well as in life, imbuing our memories with folkloric elements was instrumental in confronting our wounds and disillusionment. Through elevating our stories and struggles through fairytale, and discovering the wisdom inherent in our metaphorical interpretations, we liberated the child so that she could express her freed up potentials and connect beyond the wounded self.
