Counseling How

Narrative Therapy in Fort Collins

You are not the problem

Narrative therapy counseling in Fort Collins at Foundations Counseling helps you look at the stories you tell about yourself and your problems, separate who you are from what you are struggling with, and build a fuller story. It is private pay, about $200 per session, with a free consultation and a first appointment usually within 48 hours.

What is narrative therapy at Foundations?

Narrative therapy counseling in Fort Collins at Foundations Counseling helps you look at the stories you tell about yourself and your problems, separate who you are from what you are struggling with, and build a fuller story. It is private pay, about $200 per session, with a free consultation and a first appointment usually within 48 hours.

What is narrative therapy?

Narrative therapy starts from the idea that people make sense of their lives through stories. When something hard goes on long enough, the story can shrink to the problem: I am an anxious person, I am the one who always ruins things, we are a family that fights. Narrative therapy treats you as the expert on your own life and helps you notice the parts of your experience that do not fit that thin story, so a more complete and more hopeful one has room to grow.

What does externalizing the problem mean?

A central tool is talking about the problem as something separate from you. Instead of "I am depressed," you might talk about how the depression shows up, what it tells you, and when it has less pull. A federal treatment guide on family therapy gives a simple example of this kind of externalizing language: saying "the drinking," not "her drinking," to help a person and their family separate the problem from conclusions about who they are. That shift can lower shame and make it easier to work on the problem together.

What happens in a narrative therapy session?

Sessions are conversations, with your counselor asking a lot of curious questions. You might name the problem, trace where certain beliefs about yourself came from, and look for times the problem did not win, even small ones. Those moments become the start of a different storyline. Some people also use writing, letters or journaling between sessions to keep developing that story in their own words.

Who is narrative therapy a good fit for?

It can suit people who feel defined by a label, a diagnosis, a past event or what others have said about them. It is often used with individuals, couples and families, and with concerns like depression, grief and loss and low self-esteem. If you want a more structured, skills based approach, your counselor can talk with you about blending in other methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Who will I work with?

A smaller number of Foundations counselors offer narrative therapy. When you reach out, tell us you are interested in this approach and we will match you with one of them. Your first meeting with that counselor is a free consultation. If the first match does not feel right, our Counselor Match Guarantee means we will find another counselor who is.

Sessions are in person at our office in Fort Collins (Central), or through online counseling anywhere in Colorado.

Feeling comfortable with your counselor matters. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that rapport and trust are essential in therapy, which is why the match comes first.

What does narrative therapy at Foundations not cover?

If you are thinking about suicide or are in emotional crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911. Foundations offers outpatient talk therapy, so it is not the right fit for an active crisis, and it does not include medication, psychiatry or emergency care. Questions about medication belong with your physician. It also does not include psychological testing or evaluations for a court, school or employer. Tell us what is going on when you reach out and we will point you to the right kind of care.

Ready to talk?

For a place to start at home, try these therapeutic journaling prompts. When you are ready, book a free consultation or call 970.227.2770. Tell us what is going on and what you hope will change, and we will take it from there.

book your free consultation

970.227.2770

GUARANTEED COUNSELOR MATCH

Retelling your story asks for trust. If your first match does not feel like someone you can be open with, we will find another Foundations counselor who is. How the Counselor Match Guarantee works.

Learn More

HOW WE WORK WITH NARRATIVE THERAPY

Your counselor listens for the story the problem has been telling and helps you find the parts of your life it leaves out.

• Externalizing conversations that separate you from the problem so you can work on it together.
• Looking for times the problem had less pull and building on them.
• Writing or journaling between sessions, if that fits you, alongside approaches like CBT.

All Therapies

Do You Feel...

What brings people to counseling rarely arrives as one clear moment. More often it builds quietly: a feeling that lingers, a pattern that keeps repeating, a sense that something is off. If any of these sound familiar, reaching out to Foundations is a simple first step.

Defined by Your Problem

Feeling like the struggle has become your whole identity, as if you are simply "the anxious one" and nothing else about you really counts.

A Story That Feels Too Small

Do you describe yourself in a way that leaves out your strengths, values and the times you handled things well? A thin story can hide much of who you are.

Labels That Weigh You Down

Carrying words others have used for you, or that you use for yourself, and feeling like those labels decide what is possible before you even begin.

Shame That Sticks

Feeling like your problems prove something bad about you, which makes it harder to talk about them or ask for help without bracing for judgment.

Family Stories That Box You In

Being cast as the difficult one, the responsible one or the black sheep, and finding that old family roles still shape how you see yourself today.

Stuck in an Old Chapter

Do you feel defined by something that happened years ago? It is possible to honor that part of your life while making room for what comes next.

Changes That Shake Your Identity

A move, a breakup, a new role or a loss can leave you unsure who you are now and how the pieces of your life fit together.

A Problem That Runs the Show

Feeling like anxiety, anger or worry makes the decisions in your life, and wanting to understand how it operates so you can take back some influence.

Forgetting Your Own Strengths

Losing sight of the skills, values and people that have helped you through hard times before, especially when current struggles take up all the space.

Guaranteed Counselor Match Learn More

Colorado Licensed Counselors

Appointment Scheduling Within 48 Hours

Counselor Match Concierge

Expert In-house Counselor Training

All Counselors Are Employees

In-person Or Online

Local Company & Ownership

Community Involvement

Pay Per Session

First Visit Free

Book Now

Find the Right Match

We understand that the journey to emotional well-being begins with connecting you to the right counselor. That's why we proudly offer our unique Counselor Match Guarantee. We don't just pair you with any counselor; we meticulously match you with someone who aligns with your specific needs, preferences, and goals for healing and growth. If the initial pairing needs to be corrected, we encourage you to explore our diverse and experienced team until you find the perfect fit.

Your comfort and progress are paramount, so we ensure you always have a supportive and confidential environment to pursue your journey of self-discovery and healing. Choose us as your trusted partner in this transformative experience—because your well-being deserves the utmost care.

Begin your journey today and take the first step towards a brighter, more fulfilling tomorrow. Let us guide you to emotional wellness with our dedicated and compassionate counseling services.

Meet Our Counselors

Book Your Free Consultation Book Now