Art Heals
Dear Reader
People often ask me: What does healing through the narrative arts mean?
I tell them: Narrative art tells a story.
And narrative arts therapy?
It helps you to explore your story – shaping it, deepening it, and discovering its power.
The aim is to craft healing narratives that strengthen you.
Narrative Arts Therapy (NAT) is both an art and a science. It lights up the brain, sparks neural connections, and helps us expand beyond the limits of our usual selves. It offers tools to reframe challenges, shift perspectives, and reconstruct a wiser, more empowered narrative.
Our ancestors knew the transformative power of storytelling, and all the other branches of creativity. Now, scientists explain why – revealing how stories shape our minds, emotions, and sense of self. I think of it as our Super Power.
Most importantly, the process centres you. Your story belongs to you. You are the expert of your own life. You can re-imagine your narrative - and step into it fully.
You and your stories are welcome here.
Warmly
Marlene
ABOUT
About Dr Marlene Winberg
Dr Marlene Winberg holds a Doctor of Philosophy with a specialisation in the narrative arts from the Faculty of Science at the University of Cape Town, a Masters of Arts in Fine Art (UCT) and BA in Drama and Literature (UCT). She holds certificates in a range of healing modalities, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy from the Applied College of Psychology in the UK, Clinical Hypnosis and Narrative Therapy from the Dulwich Centre in Australia.
Dr Winberg has served as co-ordinator, teacher and trauma counsellor to the international children's rights organisation, The World's Children's Prize, since its inception in 2000. In this capacity she has listened to thousands of vulnerable women and children all over the globe tell their stories.
As an oral history facilitator for San communities in southern Africa, she has witnessed how indigenous healing practices, including storytelling, support communities' health and well-being. She brought this experience to her post-doctoral research to establish a trans-disciplinary framework for linking traditional healing practices with the arts and science.
She is the author of several books on the integration of the narrative arts, healing and indigenous knowledge.
One On One Sessions
A 90-minute in-person session provides an in-depth experience with narrative arts therapy. It includes the course guide book for continued self-guided healing, and digital resources for further exploration of narrative arts therapy.
Online Sessions
Online therapy is increasingly popular due to its privacy, autonomy, and the ability to choose a preferred environment. Teenagers find it effective and less stigmatising, as they can do therapy in their own home. It is also more affordable.
Courses
An introductory session followed by six sessions includes the course workbook, The Story of You. The course is beneficial for women and teens facing life challenges, including grief, trauma, anxiety, loss, menopause, puberty or chronic illness.
Podcast
Dr Winberg discusses the history of healing through the arts, focusing on loss, life transitions, and recovery. The podcast includes adapted stories of her students and clients, along with book reviews on the science of healing through the arts.
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