Creating Healing Self Stories: Reclaiming Authority and 'Unlearning Not to Speak'

Abstract

The question I seek to answer in this thesis is essentially this: How do we as counsellors make use of our "self" and the insights attachment theory offers to facilitate healing self-stories which promote psychological growth and well-being? I attempt to answer this question in two parallel ways: first, by reviewing relevant theoretical literature, and second, by providing anecdotes, examples, and illustrations from my own life and clinical counselling practice. All stories involving clients have been modified to preserve confidentiality.