David Epston – The Story Weaver

Origins & Background

David Epston, born in Canada and raised in New Zealand, is widely recognized as the co-founder of Narrative Therapy alongside Michael White. With academic training in sociology and anthropology, Epston brought a culturally conscious, systems-based perspective to psychotherapy. His clinical approach centers on the power of language and story in shaping identity, offering an alternative to traditional diagnostic and pathology-based methods.

Health vs. Dysfunction

In Narrative Therapy, Epston viewed dysfunction not as a flaw within the individual, but as the result of internalized narratives shaped by culture, trauma, or power structures. Health is defined by the ability to author one’s own life story with agency, imagination, and self-trust. Dysfunction arises when individuals become trapped in narrow, problem-saturated identities—such as “the addict,” “the failure,” or “the anxious one”—that block hope and obscure strengths.

Theory of Change

Change emerges when clients begin to re-author their stories. Through collaborative dialogue, therapists help clients externalize the problem, clarify values, and develop preferred narratives that honor their lived experience. This process of story reconstruction fosters emotional freedom, renewed identity, and expanded meaning-making.

Nature of Therapy

Narrative Therapy, as practiced by Epston, is relational, imaginative, and collaborative. Rather than diagnosing or fixing, the therapist engages in storytelling and documentation practices that reinforce the client’s capacity to shift meaning. Letters, metaphors, and creative techniques are often used to support lasting transformation.

Role of the Therapist

The therapist acts as a curious co-author—amplifying marginalized voices, honoring culture, and inviting the client to take the lead in the narrative process. Epston emphasized playfulness, non-pathologizing language, and radical respect for the client’s worldview.

Assessment & Goals

Assessment in Narrative Therapy focuses on identifying dominant cultural scripts, language patterns, and identity-shaping beliefs. Goals are centered on expanding narrative possibilities—helping clients move from self-limiting stories to ones that reflect agency, resilience, and meaning.

Treatment Planning

• Engage in externalizing conversations to separate the person from the problem
• Use therapeutic letters and story documentation to reinforce change
• Introduce outsider witnesses to validate identity shifts
• Track and name moments of resistance or resilience

Typical Interventions

• Externalization practices
• Double listening
• Therapeutic letter writing
• Metaphoric naming of problems (e.g., “The Worry Monster”)
• Community-based storytelling

Cultural Considerations

David Epston’s work emphasizes the importance of honoring cultural narratives, collective wisdom, and contextualized meaning. His approach resists one-size-fits-all diagnoses and resonates strongly with therapists working in multicultural, post-colonial, or community-based settings. Narrative Therapy encourages therapists to localize interventions in culturally relevant ways and to treat language as both a healing tool and a social justice practice.