Narrative Therapy and the Nature Of “Innovative Moments” in the Construction of Change

In the narrative metaphor of psychotherapy, clients transform themselves by changing their life stories. According to White and Epston (1990) White, M. and Epston, D. 1990. Narrative means to therapeutic ends, New York: Norton. [Google Scholar], the construction of change occurs from the expansion of unique outcomes—or innovative moments, as we prefer to call them—that is, the development of episodes outside the problem-saturated narrative. Unique outcomes operate as exceptions to the rule (i.e., to the problem-saturated story) that can be changed to a new rule (i.e., a new narrative). We suggest that some forms of unique outcomes can operate as shadow voices (Gustafson, 1992 Gustafson, J. P. 1992. Self-delight in a harsh world, New York: Norton. [Google Scholar]) of the problem-saturated story, allowing a temporary release from the problem, but facilitating a return to it. In our view, there is a particular type of unique outcome—reconceptualization—that facilitates sustained change. This kind of innovation facilitates the emergence of a meta-level perspective about the change process itself and, in turn, enables the active positioning of the person as an author of the new narrative.