Narrative Therapy Roadmap Lesson Plan Unlocking Stories
Narrative Therapy Roadmap
Audience: 10th Grade (Individual)
Setting: Tier 3 Counseling
Time: 2 x 55-minute sessions
Why This Approach?
Metaphor-based narrative therapy helps students externalize challenges, build self-awareness, and develop resilience by reframing experiences as stories, promoting emotional processing and empowerment.
Objective
Guide the student to map personal challenges through narrative therapy and craft a personal metaphor, then explore and reflect on that metaphor to empower new perspectives and coping strategies.
Preparation
Review Your Story, Your Power Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with key narrative therapy concepts.
Read through the Metaphor Elicitation Dialogue Script and note places to tailor prompts.
Print copies of the Personal Story Map Worksheet and the Metaphor Reflection Journal .
Arrange a private, comfortable space ensuring tissues and water are available.
Session 1: Mapping the Journey
55 Minutes
5 min
Welcome & Rapport
Greet the student warmly and explain confidentiality. Check in on current mood and energy. Reiterate the goal: exploring personal stories to gain insight.
10 min
Intro to Narrative Therapy
Material: Your Story, Your Power Slides
Define narrative therapy and the power of personal stories. Discuss how metaphors can help externalize and reframe challenges—viewing the problem as separate from the person.
25 min
Personal Story Mapping
Material: Personal Story Map Worksheet
Identify 3–5 key life events related to current challenges. Guide with probing questions: "What stands out in this event?" "How did you feel?" Encourage keywords or quick sketches.
15 min
Debrief & Brainstorm
Review the completed Story Map together. Ask: "If your journey so far were a story or object, what would it be?" Brainstorm metaphors and narrow down to the most resonant one.
Session 2: Deepening the Metaphor
55 Minutes
5 min
Check-In
Welcome student back; revisit last session’s insights. Ask how they felt after reflecting on their story map during the week.
15 min
Metaphor Elicitation
Material: Metaphor Elicitation Dialogue Script
Guide the student through prompts to deepen the chosen metaphor. Explore shape, color, movement, and sound to bring the image to life.
15 min
Deeper Analysis
Ask: "What does this metaphor say about your strengths and challenges?" Discuss ways the metaphor can shift—becoming stronger, smaller, or freer.
15 min
Reflection Journaling
Material: Metaphor Reflection Journal
Prompt written reflection: insights gained, emotions stirred, and next steps. Support drawing or collage if words feel limited.
5 min
Closing
Summarize key discoveries. Discuss potential follow-up supports and schedule the next check-in.
Your Story Your Power Presentation Narrative Exploration
Your Story,
Your Power
Unlock the power of your personal story through metaphor and reflection.
Teacher: Set the tone. Explain that today’s focus is on how stories give us power.
What Is Narrative Therapy?
A counseling approach that sees people as the authors of their own lives.
Helps you externalize challenges and re-author your story.
Encourages deep self-exploration and empowerment .
Teacher Note: Emphasize the collaborative nature—the student is the expert on their own life.
Why Your Story Matters
Externalize
See worries as separate from you, rather than who you are.
Perspective
Gain new viewpoints on past experiences and memories.
Identify
Find the strengths and patterns that already exist in your journey.
Teacher: Use an icon of an open book or speech bubble to highlight storytelling.
The Power of Metaphor
An image or story that represents your experience.
Helps you reframe challenges in new, creative ways.
Makes emotions concrete and workable.
VS
Metaphors act as a bridge to insight.
Metaphor Examples
Climbing a mountain
Sailing through a storm
Navigating a labyrinth
Growing as a tree
Lighting a path in darkness
Teacher: Offer these to spark ideas. Encourage the student to think beyond the usual.
Today’s Focus
1
Map 3–5 key moments in your life story
2
Brainstorm images that capture your journey
3
Choose one metaphor to explore in depth
Teacher: Preview the first activity. We'll start with the Story Map.
Metaphor Elicitation Dialogue Script Metaphor Elicitation Dialogue
Teacher Script • Individual Counseling Session
Below is a word-for-word counselor script to guide a 10th-grade student in deepening their chosen metaphor. Use gentle pacing , intentional pauses , and the follow-up prompts in parentheses to encourage richer detail.
1
Opening & Visualization
Counselor: “Welcome back! Last time, you told me your journey felt like [student’s chosen metaphor] . Today, we’re going to explore that image more deeply. Does that sound all right?”
(Pause for assent.)
Counselor: “Great. To start, you can close your eyes if you like, or simply soften your gaze. Take a slow, deep breath. Now, imagine your metaphor right here with us—picture its overall shape, size, and presence.”
(Pause 5–10 seconds.)
2
Sensory Exploration
Counselor: “What do you notice first when you look at it up close? Can you describe its shape or texture?”
(If student hesitates: “Think of something you know—like sandpaper, silk, or rough stone. Does any of that come to mind?”)
Counselor: “What colors or color patterns stand out?”
(If needed: “Are there bright areas, shadows, or gradients?”)
Counselor: “If this image made a sound, what would you hear?”
(Follow-up: “Is it loud or quiet? Rhythmic or irregular?”)
Counselor: “How does it move, if at all? Does it sway, pulse, spin, or remain still?”
(Prompt: “What does that motion remind you of—waves, a heartbeat, wind?”)
Counselor: “Do any smells or other sensations (like warmth, cold, or vibration) come to mind as you picture it?”
3
Emotional & Symbolic Meaning
Counselor: “As you focus on these details, what emotions come up?”
(Pause. Then: “What makes you feel that way?”)
Counselor: “Does this image connect to any moments in your life—people you know, places you’ve been, or times you’ve felt similar?”
4
Strengths & Challenges
Counselor: “Which part of this image feels most strong or supportive?”
(Prompt: “Why does that feel helpful?”)
Counselor: “And which part seems fragile, heavy, or challenging?”
(Follow-up: “What makes that part feel difficult?”)
Counselor: “If you could change one thing about this image to make it feel more empowering, what would you adjust?”
(Pause for reflection.)
5
Future Growth & Integration
Counselor: “Now imagine your metaphor evolving over time—say, after facing a big challenge or one year from now. What changes do you see?”
Personal Story Map Worksheet Personal Story Map
Identify and map the key chapters of your journey.
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Identify 3–5 key life events connected to your current challenge. Capture what happened, how you felt, and any images or symbols that stand out. Use keywords or quick sketches.
1
Event 1
Title / Date
What happened?
How did you feel?
Keywords, images, or smells
2
Event 2
Title / Date
What happened?
How did you feel?
Keywords, images, or smells
3
Event 3
Title / Date
What happened?
How did you feel?
Keywords, images, or smells
Reflection & Themes
1. Emerging Patterns or Themes
What connections do you notice across these events?
2. Strengths & Resources
Which personal strengths or supports appear in your story?
3. Challenges & Obstacles
What recurring difficulties or barriers do you see?
4. Overarching Story
If you had to give your story a title or metaphor now, what would it be?
Visual Map
Draw or sketch an image, symbol, or timeline that captures the flow of your story and how events connect.
Metaphor Reflection Journal Personal Reflection
Metaphor Journal
Capturing insights, emotions, and visions for growth.
Name: ______________________
Date: ______________________
1 My Chosen Metaphor
What metaphor did you select to represent your journey or challenge? Why did this image or story feel most resonant with you?
2 Sensory Discoveries
Reflect on the details you explored (shape, color, sound, movement, texture). Which sensory elements stood out most?
3 Emotional Insights
What emotions surfaced as you visualized and described your metaphor? What do they reveal about your experience?
4 Strengths & Challenges
Identify which parts felt empowering and which parts felt difficult or heavy. How does this mirror your real life?
5 Vision for Growth
Imagine your metaphor evolving over time. What changes do you see (new colors, shapes, movements)? How can this vision guide your goals?
6 Action & Integration
List 2–3 concrete actions you will take to strengthen and move your metaphor forward. How will you revisit this image in difficult moments?
A.
B.
C.
7 Creative Expression
Use this space to sketch your metaphor as it is now or as you’d like it to become. Let your creativity flow.
