What is a common method used in narrative therapy?

Re-authoring the client's life stories is a fundamental method used in narrative therapy. This approach focuses on the idea that individuals construct their identities and experiences through the stories they tell about themselves. In narrative therapy, clients are encouraged to reflect on their life narratives and to consider how these stories shape their beliefs, emotions, and behaviors. By re-authoring these narratives, clients can create new meanings and interpretations of their experiences, allowing for personal growth and positive change. This technique empowers clients to take control of their own narratives, helping them to break free from unproductive patterns and to develop a more coherent and positive sense of self.

In this context, the other options do not align with the core techniques of narrative therapy. Identifying cognitive distortions tends to be more associated with cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on changing unhelpful thought patterns. Setting specific behavioral goals is a common strategy in various therapeutic approaches, particularly those that are goal-oriented, like solution-focused therapy. Developing awareness of unconscious drives is a focus of psychodynamic therapies, which emphasize understanding the influence of unconscious motivations on behavior rather than the narrative aspect of one's identity.