Identify the main purpose of narrative therapy.

The main purpose of narrative therapy is to assist clients in reframing their life stories. This therapeutic approach centers on the belief that individuals understand their lives through personal narratives, and these stories shape their identities and experiences. By helping clients identify and re-author these narratives, therapists enable them to view their lives from different perspectives, emphasizing agency and personal meaning.

In narrative therapy, clients are encouraged to separate themselves from their problems, leading to a more empowering view of their circumstances. This reframing can facilitate healing, growth, and a sense of control over one’s life story. Clients learn to construct preferred narratives that reflect their values and experiences, which can reduce feelings of helplessness and foster resilience.

Other options do not align with the fundamental principles of narrative therapy. For instance, prescribing medication pertains to a medical model of treatment, which is not within the scope of narrative therapy. Analyzing dreams is more closely related to psychoanalytic approaches, which focus on the unconscious mind. Enforcing behavioral changes is characteristic of behavioral therapies, which aim at modifying specific behaviors rather than exploring and reframing life narratives. Therefore, the focus on reframing life stories is what makes this approach distinct and effective in empowering clients.