Narrative coaching is one of the most philosophically rich coaching approaches — and one of the most practical. Here's how it works.
Narrative coaching, developed by Dr David Drake, is an approach built on the insight that our lives are shaped by the stories we tell — about who we are, what is possible, and what our experiences mean. By working with and on these stories, narrative coaches help clients identify the narratives that are limiting them, loosen their grip on unhelpful stories, and author more useful ones.
Most coaching works at the level of goals, thoughts, and behaviours. Narrative coaching works at the level of identity and meaning — the deeper stories that generate goals, thoughts, and behaviours. It is particularly effective for people who have 'done all the right things' but still feel stuck, because the blockage is often at the story level, not the tactics level.
We all carry stories that were useful at one point — 'I'm not the kind of person who...' or 'things always go wrong for me when...' These stories were often formed in response to early experiences and made sense then. The problem is that we continue to filter our experience through them long after they've stopped being accurate or useful, which means we miss evidence that contradicts the story and over-notice evidence that confirms it.
A narrative coach listens differently — attending to the specific language clients use, the metaphors they reach for, what they emphasise and what they omit. They ask questions that help the client stand outside their story and examine it: 'What does that story give you? What does it cost you? What would change if that story were different?' The work is slow, precise, and often produces significant shifts from seemingly small observations.
Yes — narrative coaching is particularly well-suited to imposter syndrome, which is fundamentally a story problem. The imposter syndrome narrative ('I don't really deserve my success') is not based on objective evidence; it is a story that selectively filters experience. Narrative coaching helps clients examine that story — where it came from, what evidence actually supports it, and what alternative story fits the facts equally well or better.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) focuses on identifying and challenging specific unhelpful thoughts and their connection to behaviour. Narrative coaching works at a broader level — the overarching stories and meaning-making frameworks that generate those thoughts. CBT is a clinical intervention; narrative coaching is not. Both can be effective — narrative coaching is often a better fit for people who have worked through their 'hot thoughts' and are looking for deeper pattern work.
◈ FEATURED COACHES
Explore coaches specialising in this area: Martha Beck, Jay Shetty, Mastin Kipp
◈ Find Your Coach
Browse our directory of verified coaches across every specialty.
Browse Coaches →