Neuro-narrative Therapy: Brain Science, Narrative Therapy, Poststructuralism, and Preferred Identities

Neuro-narrative therapy is another step in the direction of allowing ideas from interpersonal neurobiology and affective neuroscience to influence narrative therapy practices. This theoretical article briefly summarizes ideas in four different domains of work. First, the importance of privileging affect is consistent with what we know is the brain's primary motivational system. Second, body and mindfulness practices represent an area where there is an explosion of recent work. Third, right brain to right brain communication reflects the current emphasis on right brain functions and the need in today's world to balance out left brain influences. And last, non-conscious influences are described; this represents the most controversial area for narrative therapists. This article is not about reviewing the ways neurobiology has already been integrated into narrative or other psychotherapies, nor an attempt to situate narrative therapy in neurobiology, but rather about opening up different possibilities for one discourse to contribute to another.