The Healer Within
Dear Reader
People often ask me: What is the difference between a story and a narrative? When do I know when I am telling a story, or a narrative?
A story is a sequence of events - what happened.
A narrative is the meaning we make from those events.
Narrative Arts Therapy helps you to make meaning of the events of your life. We draw on artistic techniques to help us work through our challenging stories. This creative approach offers us the tools to re-interpret and re-shape our stories into meaningful narratives. Narratives that strengthen our identity and offers us purpose.
As both a science and a traditional artistic practice, the immersive process of Narrative Arts Therapy is specifically aimed at sparking neural connections to light up your brain – so that you may expand your vision beyond the limits of your usual self.
From this wider perspective you will be better equipped to reach for the healer within you and reconstruct a wiser narrative based on your values.
Your unique narrative.
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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