Narrative Therapy in Woodinville: Rewriting Your Story of Trauma & ADHD
Separate Yourself from the Problem and Reclaim Your Personal Agency
Reclaim Your Story with Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy is a transformative approach for adults navigating ADHD, trauma, and complex emotional patterns. For neurodivergent adults, it helps externalize challenges like executive dysfunction, so you can separate your identity from the struggles that have held you back. Instead of feeling defined by missed deadlines, forgetfulness, or overwhelm, you begin to see your competence, strengths, and adaptability.
Trauma can fragment your sense of self, leaving you trapped in a “victim story.” Narrative therapy guides you to rewrite your life story—from surviving to thriving—highlighting the hidden resilience and moments of courage that have carried you through. By reclaiming your narrative, you gain clarity, confidence, and the power to live authentically, grounded in your values, strengths, and true potential.
Narrative Therapy: Rewriting Your Story to Heal and Thrive
Narrative therapy is a collaborative, strength-based approach that helps adults explore the stories they carry about themselves, their experiences, and their identities. Rather than seeing problems as something “wrong” within you, this therapy separates the problem from the person, allowing you to examine how narratives—shaped by trauma, ADHD, family dynamics, cultural expectations, and past experiences—influence your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Through narrative therapy, you discover that your story is not fixed. Your experiences, reactions, and beliefs are living narratives, open to reinterpretation, revision, and growth. This approach restores personal agency, helping you take ownership of your life story instead of feeling defined by struggles or limitations.
For adults navigating ADHD, trauma, or complex life challenges, narrative therapy helps uncover where internalized messages of “I’m too much,” “I’m not enough,” or “I’m broken” came from—and whether they are actually true or helpful. By externalizing these beliefs and elevating overlooked strengths, you can rewrite your internal narrative in a way that is compassionate, accurate, and empowering. This process reduces shame, increases self-understanding, and creates space for healthier thought patterns, emotional regulation, and behavior.
Integrating Meaning and Emotional Coherence
Many clients with trauma histories experience fragmented memories or overwhelming emotional responses, while ADHD can create a sense of inconsistency, chaos, or missed milestones. Narrative therapy uses guided externalization, structured reflection, and re-authoring conversations to integrate these experiences, weaving them into a coherent, meaningful whole. This not only deepens self-awareness but strengthens resilience, allowing you to move forward with confidence, clarity, and a renewed sense of identity.
The Science Behind Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy is supported by cognitive psychology, memory research, and neuroscience, demonstrating how the stories we tell ourselves shape our emotions, behaviors, and identity. When trauma, stress, or neurodivergent processing disrupts these narratives, rigid or negative self-beliefs can take root. Narrative therapy helps reorganize these internal storylines through problem externalization, belief examination, and memory integration aligned with your strengths and values.
Research shows that meaning-making—a core element of narrative therapy—supports emotional regulation, reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improves overall well-being. By rewriting personal narratives, clients engage in a form of cognitive restructuring that decreases shame, increases self-compassion, and strengthens resilience. Narrative therapy is not just reflection—it’s a scientifically supported path to reshape your mind’s storylines, reclaim agency, and achieve long-term emotional growth.
Narrative Therapy
“
the person is not the problem;
the problem is the problem
Michael White
Who Narrative Therapy is For
Narrative therapy is for you if…
You feel defined by your struggles. This approach is ideal for adults who have internalized negative stories about themselves—whether shaped by ADHD, trauma, anxiety, depression, or challenging relationships—and want to separate their identity from the difficulties they face.
Your experiences feel fragmented or confusing. Narrative therapy supports anyone whose past feels disjointed, whose emotions feel overwhelming, or who struggles to understand recurring patterns in their life. It helps create coherence and meaning from experiences that once felt chaotic.
You want to reclaim agency and empowerment. This therapy is for adults ready to recognize their strengths, rewrite unhelpful narratives, and build a life story that is authentic, intentional, and aligned with their true self.
Narrative therapy is particularly valuable for neurodivergent adults, trauma survivors, and anyone seeking to transform internalized “failure” or “victim” stories into narratives of resilience, competence, and self-compassion.
together, we will:
explore
The stories, beliefs, and internalized narratives that have shaped your identity—identifying which ones empower you and which ones no longer serve your growth.
uncover
The overlooked strengths, core values, and “sparkling moments” of resilience that have been overshadowed by trauma, ADHD challenges, or self-doubt.
Regain
A renewed sense of agency, clarity, and authorship over your life story—allowing you to step forward with confidence, purpose, and a narrative that reflects your authentic self.
Please know this:
your story matters, and the challenges you’ve faced do not define your worth or limit your potential for growth, healing, and self-discovery.
Narrative Therapy for ADHD & Trauma in Woodinville, WA
Schedule your free 15-minute video consultation.
Narrative Therapy in Woodinville: Reclaiming Your Story & Agency
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Narrative therapy is a collaborative, strengths-based approach that helps clients separate themselves from their problems. By exploring the stories we tell about ourselves—shaped by ADHD, trauma, anxiety, or past experiences—we can identify which narratives no longer serve us. Through guided externalization, reflection, and re-authoring exercises, clients learn to reclaim agency, rewrite negative self-beliefs, and create a life story that aligns with their authentic identity.
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Narrative therapy is especially effective for:
Neurodivergent adults, including those with ADHD, who feel defined by their struggles.
Individuals with a history of trauma, complex PTSD, or emotional dysregulation seeking to understand and integrate past experiences.
Clients who feel fragmented, overwhelmed, or confused by recurring patterns in their life.
Anyone wanting to reclaim personal agency, meaning, and a sense of purpose in their relationships, career, or personal growth.
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No. Narrative therapy can benefit anyone who wants to better understand their personal story, challenge limiting beliefs, and cultivate self-compassion and resilience. While it is highly effective for trauma survivors and neurodivergent adults, it also supports anyone looking to rewrite unhelpful narratives or gain clarity in their life.
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Adults with ADHD often internalize “failure narratives” due to executive functioning challenges. Narrative therapy externalizes these struggles, separating the person from their ADHD symptoms. This process reduces shame, restores confidence, and highlights hidden strengths, allowing clients to re-author a narrative of competence, resilience, and self-efficacy.
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Trauma can disrupt our sense of self and leave clients feeling stuck in victim stories. Narrative therapy helps individuals reframe their experiences by identifying moments of resilience, integrating fragmented memories, and rewriting their personal story to emphasize survival, growth, and empowerment rather than victimhood.
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The length of therapy depends on your goals, history, and personal narrative. Some clients notice meaningful shifts in 6–8 sessions, while others benefit from longer-term engagement to fully explore and re-author complex life stories. Each plan is personalized to meet your specific needs.
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Yes. Narrative therapy is grounded in psychological research demonstrating how personal narratives shape emotion, behavior, and identity. Studies in cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and trauma-informed care support the effectiveness of externalization, meaning-making, and reflective storytelling in reducing shame, anxiety, and depressive symptoms while enhancing resilience, self-compassion, and adaptive coping.
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Absolutely. Narrative therapy is highly integrative. It pairs well with modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Humanistic Therapy, Somatic Therapy, Energy Psychology, and ADHD-focused interventions to provide a holistic approach that addresses thought patterns, emotional regulation, and body-based responses.
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Clients typically experience:
Increased self-awareness and understanding of personal patterns
Reduced shame, self-criticism, and internalized negative narratives
Enhanced resilience and confidence in managing challenges
Greater clarity, agency, and authorship over life choices
A renewed sense of purpose, meaning, and alignment with core values
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No. Narrative therapy is suitable for adolescents, young adults, and adults. It is especially effective for those navigating ADHD, trauma, complex emotional patterns, or transitions in work, relationships, or personal identity.