Externalization

Artwork Interpretation

This image shows a shadowy internal figure stepping out of a person’s body and being seen for the first time. It captures the essence of Narrative Therapy’s core principle: “The problem is the problem; the person is not the problem.” The dramatic lighting and peeled silhouette express how externalization reveals previously hidden or oppressive stories.

Core Meaning

Externalization is the practice of separating the person from the problem. Rather than seeing issues as internal flaws, therapists help clients view them as outside influences that can be named, explored, and challenged.

Concept Origins

Developed by Michael White and David Epston as a central pillar of Narrative Therapy, externalization was created to counter pathologizing language and promote empowerment through storytelling.

Therapeutic Purpose

Externalization helps clients reduce shame, develop agency, and reposition themselves in relation to problems. It opens space for re-authoring preferred identities and challenging dominant problem-saturated narratives.

Common Interventions

• Naming the problem as an external entity
• Personifying the problem in metaphoric terms
• Mapping the influence of the problem
• Creating counter-narratives or “thin” story expansions

Ideal Client Use

Best used with clients overwhelmed by shame, trauma, or labels. Helpful in working with youth, survivors of abuse, or those struggling with internalized oppression or identity issues.

Cultural Considerations

Externalization aligns well with cultures that use metaphor and storytelling as part of healing. However, some clients may need support understanding that separating from the problem doesn’t mean avoiding accountability—it’s about empowerment.