Latest revision as of 23:19, 19 August 2026

Re-authoring

This project grows through feedback
This wiki develops the way systemic ideas do — through feedback and circularity, not a fixed final version. If this page helped, confused, or fell short, that's worth knowing. Give feedback →

Short definition

Re-authoring is the collaborative process of identifying, developing and strengthening alternative stories that more accurately reflect a person's values, intentions, relationships and preferred identity than dominant problem-saturated stories.

Expanded definition

Re-authoring is one of the central therapeutic processes within Narrative Therapy. It is based on the understanding that people's lives are organised through stories rather than objective descriptions of reality.

Problem-saturated stories often become dominant because they are repeatedly reinforced through personal experiences, family interactions and wider cultural discourses. Over time, these stories can narrow people's understanding of themselves and limit the possibilities they imagine for their future.

Re-authoring seeks to broaden these understandings by connecting experiences that have previously been overlooked or given little significance.

Rather than inventing new stories, Narrative therapists help people recognise stories that already exist within their lives but have remained marginalised. These stories often emerge through unique outcomes, acts of resistance, meaningful relationships and lived expressions of personal values.

As these experiences become connected, they begin to form richer and more coherent accounts of identity.

Re-authoring therefore represents an ongoing process of identity development rather than a single therapeutic intervention.

Supporting concepts

This concept incorporates the following supporting concepts:

Landscape of Action
Landscape of Identity
Identity stories
Collective stories

Landscape of Action

The Landscape of Action refers to the sequence of events that make up people's lived experience.

Narrative therapists become curious about:

what happened
who was involved
what the person did
what they chose
what happened next

Initially these events may appear ordinary or insignificant.

However, careful exploration often reveals moments that contradict the dominant problem story and provide the foundations for preferred narratives.

The Landscape of Action asks:

"What happened?"

Landscape of Identity

The Landscape of Identity explores what these actions reveal about the person.

Rather than focusing solely on behaviour, the therapist asks what actions demonstrate about:

values
intentions
commitments
hopes
beliefs
preferred identity

Questions may include:

What does this tell you about yourself?
What values were guiding you?
What does this suggest about the kind of person you are?
Why was this important to you?

Moving repeatedly between the Landscape of Action and the Landscape of Identity allows preferred stories to become increasingly rich and meaningful.

Identity stories

Identity stories are the narratives through which people understand who they are.

Narrative Therapy assumes that identity is continuously shaped through experience rather than existing as a fixed characteristic.

Some identity stories become dominant because they are repeatedly reinforced.

Others remain hidden despite reflecting important aspects of a person's life.

Re-authoring strengthens preferred identity stories by connecting multiple experiences into a coherent narrative organised around values rather than problems.

Collective stories

Identity never develops in isolation.

Preferred stories become stronger when they are recognised by significant others, families, communities and cultures.

Narrative Therapy therefore explores questions such as:

Who already knows this version of you?
Who has always believed this about you?
Who would not be surprised by this story?
Which communities support this preferred identity?

Collective stories help preferred identities continue developing beyond therapy.

Why this concept matters

Without re-authoring, therapy risks remaining focused upon problems.

Re-authoring shifts attention towards people's lived knowledge, values and relationships.

Rather than helping people simply cope with problems, Narrative Therapy supports them in developing identities organised around:

courage
compassion
perseverance
hope
love
responsibility
creativity
justice

These preferred stories become increasingly influential as they are revisited, expanded and witnessed by others.

Over time they begin influencing future decisions, relationships and possibilities.

Non-clinical example

A newly qualified nurse repeatedly describes herself as "not confident enough."

During conversation she remembers supporting anxious patients, encouraging colleagues and remaining calm during emergencies.

Although she had viewed these as isolated events, they gradually become connected into a preferred story organised around compassion, resilience and competence.

Clinical example

A young person referred for depression describes himself as "a burden."

Through re-authoring conversations he recalls continuing to support younger siblings, attending college despite low mood and maintaining close friendships.

These experiences become linked into an emerging identity story organised around commitment, care and perseverance.

Over time this preferred story becomes increasingly influential in how he understands himself and relates to others.

Core insight

People's lives always contain more stories than the dominant problem allows them to see.

Re-authoring helps these neglected stories become visible, connected and influential.

Questions before a session

Which dominant story currently organises the person's identity?
Which unique outcomes have already emerged?
Which values appear most significant?
Which relationships may support preferred stories?
How might today's conversation contribute to identity development?

Questions during a session

What happened?
What did you do?
What made that possible?
What does this say about you?
Why was this important?
Which values were being expressed?
Who would recognise this version of you?
How does this fit with the person you want to become?
Which other experiences connect with this story?

Questions after a session

Which preferred story became stronger?
Which identity themes emerged?
How were values connected to lived experience?
Which relationships could further strengthen this story?
What conversations should continue next time?

Related epistemologies

Related schools and models

Narrative

Related concepts

Related methods

Related techniques

Related pathways

Narrative pathway

Key theorists / contributors

Key texts / references

White, M. (2007). Maps of Narrative Practice. New York: W. W. Norton.
White, M., & Epston, D. (1990). Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends. New York: W. W. Norton.
Freedman, J., & Combs, G. (1996). Narrative Therapy: The Social Construction of Preferred Realities. New York: W. W. Norton.

Notes

Re-authoring is not the creation of fictional or overly positive stories. It is a disciplined therapeutic process that connects authentic lived experiences into richer narratives organised around people's values, commitments and preferred identities. It provides the primary mechanism through which Narrative Therapy supports enduring identity development.

Give feedback on this page: [SystemicWiki Feedback Form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScrBMoa6DxSrVKz8yJSHonEA7jK_Ho0CIWqgH2ppkRN7omVjA/viewform?usp=publish-editor)

Review status
Status: Open for review
Review history:
(No reviews yet.)

Re-authoring: Difference between revisions

Dsi.ionescu (talk | contribs)