Externalizing the Problem
Instead of saying ‘I am anxious,’ you might name anxiety as something separate that shows up and tries to control your decisions. Externalizing creates distance and room to fight back.
Encinitas therapist serving San Diego
Therapeutic approach · 02
Narrative Therapy in Encinitas
Narrative Therapy starts with a simple idea: the person is not the problem; the problem is the problem. Emma Bourroux, AMFT uses narrative approaches with individuals, couples, and families in Encinitas who feel trapped by old labels, family roles, or beliefs about who they are allowed to be.
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This Approach Can Help When You Notice
You do not need to check every box. One pattern is enough to start.
- A story about yourself that keeps you stuck, such as ‘I am too much’ or ‘I am not enough’
- Depression or anxiety that seems tied to a dominant life narrative
- Family patterns or cultural messages you have never had space to question
- Grief that has rewritten your identity without your permission
- A sense that your life does not match who you really are
- Relationship conflict where each partner feels mischaracterized
How it works
What to expect from this approach
Finding Unique Outcomes
Even when a problem has been loud, there are moments when it did not win. Narrative Therapy carefully collects those exceptions as proof of a different story.
Re-Authoring Your Story
Together you write a richer, more accurate account of who you are that includes your values, intentions, strengths, and hopes.
Witnessing and Ceremony
Some changes deserve to be marked. Narrative work may include letters, certificates, or shared witness conversations to anchor new identity claims.
The stories we tell shape what we believe is possible. Narrative Therapy makes room for a story with more truth, more compassion, and more room for you.
From the blog
Related Reading
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Old Wounds, Present Choices: A Trauma-Informed Look at Blame and Healing
What happened to you was not your choice. How you care for yourself now can be. This article looks at the difference between blame and responsibility in trauma healing.
September 11, 2026 · 6 min readGrief & transitionsGrief Does Not Only Follow Death: Making Room for Life Transitions
A move, a breakup, an empty room, a career you outgrew. Change asks us to grieve, even when nothing obviously bad has happened.
September 4, 2026 · 4 min readAbout therapyShould I See a Therapist? Signs It May Be Time, from an Encinitas Therapist
You do not need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Here are the quieter signs that it may be time to reach out, and what a first session in Encinitas actually looks like.
September 7, 2026 · 5 min readOther Approaches Emma Uses
01
DBT
Your emotions go from 0 to 100 and you do not know how to slow them down. DBT teaches practical skills to get through intense moments, calm down, and say what you need without blowing up or shutting down.
03Trauma-Informed Care
You do not have to say everything out loud to be helped. Trauma-informed therapy means you set the pace, you can say no or pause at any time, and nothing gets pushed before you are ready.
04Gottman Couples Therapy
Fights keep escalating, or you have started to feel more like roommates than partners. Using ideas from Gottman research, we work on how you handle conflict, show appreciation, and repair after a disagreement.
Emma often blends approaches. Visit the FAQ or read the blog to learn more.
Ready to begin?
Reach out through Good Therapy San Diego and Emma will help you find a first appointment in Encinitas.
Book an Appointment with Emma