Dr Marlene Winberg

In this space, we discover alternative story lines that can grow into stronger, supportive personal narratives. The process offers us specific narrative tools and art making techniques to do just that.

What is it not?

Narrative arts therapy is not psycho analysis and it does not diagnose. It is a philosophy that draws on the arts to honour our innate human ability to reconstruct our stories in beneficial and healing ways.

What techniques do we use during a session?

The process relies on a range of the expressive and creative arts, including writing, mind-mapping, basic painting or drawing, movement, music, play, clay or sand – depending entirely on the individual’s specific needs. No-one is the same.

This hands-on methodology supports a person’s ability to tell their story in a self-compassionate way, through images and words. From this vantage point it becomes easier to re-construct a stronger self narrative based on your values, skills and dreams.

Who benefits from the Narrative Arts Therapy programme?

My practice focusses on women and teenagers whose story lines often include stress, anxiety, menopause, grief and loss, self-esteem, trauma, abuse, addiction or a life-threatening diagnosis such as cancer.

What does the Narrative Arts Therapy programme involve?

The programme consists of an introductory session, usually followed by six to ten sessions, depending on the individual’s needs. Each session offers people a set of tools to get in touch with themselves, figure their personal plot and re-image their storylines.

We will soon launch my podcast, The Story of You, where I share my musings on why we, as human beings, continually turn to the arts for healing and guidance. The first episode is a conversation between neuroscience and narrative arts therapy, asking:

How are our brains wired for storytelling and images?

To make an online appointment, or in Fish Hoek or Constantia, call + 27 (0) 83 3925153 or email marlenewinberg@gmail.com.

Thanks for popping in.

Doctor Marlene.