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Dynamic Narrative Therapy: A Metamodern Integration of Narrative, and Strategic Family Therapy

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Abstract

Systemic models of couple and family therapy (CFT) are often categorized into two transtheoretical paradigms: modernism and postmodernism. Traditionally, these paradigms have been positioned in opposition to one another and are critiqued for their respective epistemologies and stances on the definitions of truth and reality. The binarizing of systemic models has created theoretical divisions in the field of CFT that restricts many clinicians from addressing the limitations and harnessing the benefits of each transtheoretical paradigm. Metamodernism, a philosophical paradigm that emphasizes theoretical pluralism, reflexivity, and dialectical processes, has arisen as a potential solution for addressing the philosophical tensions between modernism and postmodernism; however, there currently exists no approach to systemic therapy that aligns with the tenets of this paradigm. This article delineates the application of metamodernism in the field of systemic therapy through the presentation of Dynamic Narrative Therapy, an innovative approach to systemic therapy drawn from the integration of two foundational theoretical models (i.e., strategic family therapy and narrative family therapy). This integration synergizes the strategic concepts of circular causality and feedback loops as well as the narrative use of deconstruction, externalization, and narrative metaphor to illustrate a more comprehensive approach to the therapeutic change.

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This publication was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases under Award Number T32AI157855. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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  1. Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    Michael G. Curtis

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Curtis, M.G. Dynamic Narrative Therapy: A Metamodern Integration of Narrative, and Strategic Family Therapy. Contemp Fam Ther (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-024-09694-z

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