A Clinician's Guide to Foundational Story Psychotherapy draws together a range of theories and models to examine the use of narrative psychotherapy in clinical practice.

Illustrated with case examples and biographical vignettes, the book outlines the importance of foundational and life stories in treatment and delineates new techniques for co-assessing and changing stories. A wealth of concrete tools are included, such as the Foundational Story Interview and Family of Origin Map, as well as diagram templates and questionnaires for use during clinical sessions.

Integrating theory and practical applications, A Clinician's Guide to Foundational Story Psychotherapy introduces a range of therapeutic options rooted in a narrative context and is a valuable resource for practicing and student psychotherapists.

About the Author

Hugh K. Marr, PhD, is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Alexandria, Virginia. He has worked in all phases of community mental health, culminating in running a partial hospital program for clients with the co-occurring disorders of substance use and major mental illness. He is the coauthor of the books What Story Are You Living? and Introduction to Archetypes.

Reviews

"Dr. Hugh Marr has given us a masterpiece of synthesis and explication of the power of story across the spectrum of psychotherapy models. He provides a major expansion of narrative theory. From the role of story in the theories of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Michael White, and other innovators to the more recent 21st century developers of new ideas in psychotherapy, this book has it all. Dr. Marr provides us with a fine-grained analysis of the elements of a complete story, such as the witness, roles, themes, and plots, and gives each of these a chapter of its own, including an explanation of how changes in each element change the patient's life. There is much more. The book concludes with guides for therapists to increase the efficacy of their own work through the explicit recognition of the power of story in psychotherapeutic healing. Outstanding!" - Jay Noricks, PhD, psychotherapist and author of Healing Amelia and Parts Psychology

"Dr. Marr's book is remarkable. He shows us that although we cannot literally change the failures and afflictions of the past, we can change the way we think about them. In fact, we can see how they have helped create the person we have become and can help us attain what C. G. Jung called amor fate-namely, to love who we have become." - Julie Bondanza, PhD, Jungian analyst and former Training Director of Analytic Training for the New York C. G. Jung Institute

"A Clinician's Guide to Foundational Story Psychotherapy is a breakthrough guide, combining a comprehensive understanding of narrative and its importance in human life with strategies for utilizing this knowledge in finding the client's overarching and subtheme stories, and, when necessary, reframing them to support a richer and more fulfilling life. Dr. Marr's book is certain to become one of the classics in psychotherapy." - Carol Pearson, PhD, author of Persephone Rising: Awakening the Hero Within; coauthor with Dr. Marr of the PMAI assessment and What Story Are You Living?; past Provost and President of Pacifica Graduate Institute

"The field of psychotherapy needs a comprehensive book like this that includes both theory and practical applications. I have yet to find a book that offers such a clear and foundational overview in its approach to narrative psychotherapy and includes so many creative tools and techniques. I think clinicians will use the book to become acquainted with the narrative approach to psychotherapy, enhance their existing understanding, and learn new techniques for applying narrative in clinical practice. I look forward to further enhancing my existing clinical skills and story-based writing exercises." - Kim Schneiderman, LCSW, psychotherapist and author of Step Out of Your Story: Writing Exercises to Reframe and Transform Your Life

"Master clinician and trauma teacher Dr. Hugh Marr has created a gem that will be a treasure to all healers. It is about life stories that may limit or empower us. Like authoring a coherent book, we each need to make explicit, clarify, edit, and complete the story of our lives to find meaning, order, perspective, healing, and happiness. Marr explains how to do this with wisdom, warmth, wit, and many clear, practical explanations. This is a brilliant and fascinating read, one that I'll keep and reread." - Glenn R. Schiraldi, PhD, Lt. Colonel (Ret.), University of Maryland School of Public Health (Ret.); author of The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook, The Resilience Workbook, and The Self-Esteem Workbook

"Dr. Hugh Marr has given us a masterpiece of synthesis and explication of the power of story across the spectrum of psychotherapy models. He provides a major expansion of narrative theory. From the role of story in the theories of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Michael White, and other innovators to the more recent 21st century developers of new ideas in psychotherapy, this book has it all. Dr. Marr provides us with a fine-grained analysis of the elements of a complete story, such as the witness, roles, themes, and plots, and gives each of these a chapter of its own, including an explanation of how changes in each element change the patient's life. There is much more. The book concludes with guides for therapists to increase the efficacy of their own work through the explicit recognition of the power of story in psychotherapeutic healing. Outstanding!" - Jay Noricks, PhD, psychotherapist and author of Healing Amelia and Parts Psychology

"Dr. Marr's book is remarkable. He shows us that although we cannot literally change the failures and afflictions of the past, we can change the way we think about them. In fact, we can see how they have helped create the person we have become and can help us attain what C. G. Jung called amor fate-namely, to love who we have become." - Julie Bondanza, PhD, Jungian analyst and former training director of analytic training for the New York C. G. Jung Institute

"A Clinician's Guide to Foundational Story Psychotherapy is a breakthrough guide, combining a comprehensive understanding of narrative and its importance in human life with strategies for utilizing this knowledge in finding the client's overarching and subtheme stories, and, when necessary, reframing them to support a richer and more fulfilling life. Dr. Marr's book is certain to become one of the classics in psychotherapy." - Carol Pearson, PhD, author of Persephone Rising: Awakening the Hero Within; coauthor with Dr. Marr of the PMAI assessment and What Story Are You Living?; past provost and president of Pacifica Graduate Institute

"The field of psychotherapy needs a comprehensive book like this that includes both theory and practical applications. I have yet to find a book that offers such a clear and foundational overview in its approach to narrative psychotherapy and includes so many creative tools and techniques. I think clinicians will use the book to become acquainted with the narrative approach to psychotherapy, enhance their existing understanding, and learn new techniques for applying narrative in clinical practice. I look forward to further enhancing my existing clinical skills and story-based writing exercises." - Kim Schneiderman, LCSW, psychotherapist and author of Step Out of Your Story: Writing Exercises to Reframe and Transform Your Life

"Master clinician and trauma teacher Dr. Hugh Marr has created a gem that will be a treasure to all healers. It is about life stories that may limit or empower us. Like authoring a coherent book, we each need to make explicit, clarify, edit, and complete the story of our lives to find meaning, order, perspective, healing, and happiness. Marr explains how to do this with wisdom, warmth, wit, and many clear, practical explanations. This is a brilliant and fascinating read, one that I'll keep and reread." - Glenn R. Schiraldi, PhD, Lt. Colonel (Ret.), University of Maryland School of Public Health (Ret.); author of The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook, The Resilience Workbook, and The Self-Esteem Workbook

Book Information
ISBN 9781138542105
Author Hugh K. Marr
Format Paperback
Page Count 254
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 400g