A Case Report on the Application of Narrative Therapy to Address Self-Identity Issues in College Students in Psychological Counseling

This paper presents a case report on the application of narrative therapy to address a university student’s self-identity issues. The client, Coco (pseudonym), a 22-year-old sophomore, sought counseling due to family conflicts, chronic health problems, and a lack of healthy self-identity. Guided by narrative therapy principles, the counselor conducted 16 individual sessions, establishing a secure and stable therapeutic alliance. Through attentive listening to Coco’s life stories, the counselor assisted her in reframing personal challenges using externalizing language, uncovering alternative narratives hidden behind dominant problematic stories, and co-authoring a hopeful life narrative to cultivate a renewed self-identity. Ultimately, Coco recognized her inherent strengths within these alternative narratives, developed a postgraduate study plan, achieved the intended therapeutic goals, and improved family communication. The report provides a detailed analysis of therapeutic strategies, intervention outcomes, and reflective insights, offering practical references for mental health professionals addressing similar selfidentity concerns among university students through narrative therapy.