Cultural Support in Storytelling

By: Brandon Robbins

Since beginning this path in the field of mental health, I would never have thought I would make connections that would join me to my culture of origin and the medicinal practices that come with that way of life. My understanding of what medicine is shifts the more I choose to open up. The more I choose to understand and embrace, the more I grow. Hearing a call, I felt a pull to dive deeper—not only to connect with the culture of medicinal practices that assist those on their healing journey but also to help inform who I am in the role I take on as a person stepping into a community of helpers, guiding them to connect to their medicine, just as I am learning to connect to my own.

During this exploration, I have discovered the power of story, a form of counselling developed by Michael White and David Epston that helps clients separate their identity from their problems by exploring and "rewriting" their life stories to highlight strengths and preferred futures. This was when I was introduced to Narrative Therapy. I was a newborn counselor then; I still feel like a newborn after only five years of practice in this area, growing a practice centered on grief and the ways change can occur—the change we learn to move with, the shifts that happen every day, the adjustments that occur, the relationships that appear and fall away, the safety that is created, shattered, and rebuilt. The cycle of birth, death, and renewal is ever-present. In all of these moments is a story, where participants are the main characters.

Culturally, stories are legacies of those who came before and have now gone. The story is the only thing left behind after everything else has turned to dust. These tales are passed down and retold, adapted, and may not resemble the original. The storyteller adds and takes away, telling it in a way that is uniquely theirs, expressing their view, their voice rising and falling with such artistry, using words to paint images in the minds and hearts of those listening. The storyteller does not care how the story is told, as long as it is told; they are not only storytellers but also historians passing on vital pieces that would be lost if not for their sharing. What matters is that it’s told and shared, passed on. Within these stories are lessons learned, morality, and wonder, which serve to connect individuals to their past and perhaps their cultural identity.

The storytelling, paired with the therapeutic modality, builds a relationship between the person and the construct, allowing for understanding and means to care for it properly, thus learning tactics to care for oneself. This creates language and a method of care that translates into the person’s physical life. With time and practice, how the person manages future episodes can shift to something more manageable, providing different insights into their needs at that moment. They learn how to better care for themselves in those tough times.

Using these methods is not only useful for problematic situations but can also benefit areas where a person can create a construct. I use it to better understand my emotions. Each has its own construct, and I’ve built another in which we all exist, creating an element of safety. This model creates further complexities because it explores my relationship with them, as well as their relationships with each other. They are siblings, after all, and I am their caregiver, operating within this house of wonder, each of us doing the necessary work that affects me as a person in my reality. Also, in this imagined space, in this home, we gather together around a dinner table, providing opportunities for conversations about the day’s events and how they experienced them. These stories give me insight into my own feelings and help me consider aspects of events I never thought of before. It’s fascinating to explore my emotions and their feelings about my feelings—the curious conversations I seem to have with myself, about myself, and the clarity and understanding that emerge from that. As unconventional as it may sound, there is humour in it as well, which creates an interesting narrative.

What is the role of storytelling in cultural identity?

Storytelling plays a crucial role in cultural identity in several significant ways:

1. Preservation of Legacy: Stories serve as legacies from those who came before, acting as vital links to cultural heritage. They preserve the values, beliefs, and experiences of past generations, ensuring that important cultural narratives are passed down through time.

2. Connection to the Past: Storytelling connects individuals to their cultural roots and heritage. By recounting stories from their culture, people can invoke a sense of belonging and continuity, reinforcing their identity and the shared experiences of their community.

3. Expression of Cultural Values and Morality: The stories often carry lessons, morals, and the cultural mores of a community. Through storytelling, these values are taught and reinforced, helping individuals understand their role within their culture and the expectations that accompany it.

4. Adaptation and Evolution: The text notes that stories can be retold and adapted, reflecting the dynamic nature of cultural identity. While the core message might remain, the storyteller can infuse personal experiences and perspectives, allowing the stories to evolve with each generation while still honoring their origins.

5. Artistic Expression: Storytelling is described as an art form through which individuals express their viewpoints and experiences. This artistic rendering adds depth to cultural narratives, making them more relatable and engaging, and fostering a deeper emotional connection to one’s cultural identity.

6. Cultural Historians: Storytellers are portrayed as historians who pass on vital pieces of culture that might otherwise be lost. This role emphasizes the importance of oral tradition in preserving and transmitting cultural knowledge.

7. Fostering Community Connection: By sharing stories within the community, individuals strengthen bonds with one another, facilitating dialogue and shared experiences. This communal aspect of storytelling reinforces collective identity and solidarity among members of a culture.

In summary, storytelling acts as a vehicle for preserving cultural identity, conveying values and morals, fostering community bonds, and allowing for personal expression while maintaining links to the past. It enriches the understanding of who individuals are within their cultural contexts and supports the continuity and evolution of cultural narratives.