Do you suffer from self doubt, low self esteem, imposter’s syndrome? Phil Lance’s The Narrative Therapy Workbook for Self-Esteem might be what you are looking for. Phil’s style, prompts, and examples make this book easy to follow and use, so get ready to rewrite/reshape your story and your future. Thanks so much to New Harbinger for the ARC.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-narrative-therapy-workbook-for-self-esteem-phil-lane-lcsw/1146033783?ean=9781648485312&bvnotificationId=075a4adf-8632-11f0-872a-0e25d896ddfb&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/356115002

A bit cheesy (as many therapy style workbooks are) and long-winded but could be useful for some. It seems that there are some individual exercises that may be helpful for those who connect with Narrative Therapy. I feel like working with a therapist (using this workbook or without it) would be more beneficial than doing this workbook alone because many can benefit may also need support changing their negative self-messaging.

I'd recommend it as a physical workbook instead of an ebook. I found it clunky as an ebook (although some of this problem may be fixed since ARCs often are clunkier than the published version).

Overall, I'd recommend interested readers flip through it themselves and see if they feel it connects with their needs.

Great material to read through! Truthfully, I misunderstood what I was requesting with this arc. It was still highly informative however!

This is an insightful new approach to therapy. I have always believed in free writing where you just pick up a pen and write down everything that comes to mind without thinking about it and this takes that one step further with guidance on specific topics to help you change your negative view of yourself and your circumstances to a more positive view.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions written are completely honest and my own.

I was able to get through the first few chapters and really enjoyed. I then just felt hopeless (not related to the book) and stopped. This is a new concept for me and I enjoyed it s lot

This is a thoughtful and practical workbook that takes a gentle but empowering approach to self-esteem. I really liked how it focused on reshaping the stories we tell ourselves—it made some heavy topics feel more approachable. The tone is supportive without being overly fluffy, and the exercises are easy to follow, even if they sometimes challenged me in a good way.

There were a few parts where I felt a bit stuck or unsure how to apply the activity to my own story, but overall, it was a helpful tool for reflection and personal growth. I could definitely see myself revisiting this when I need a reminder to shift my mindset or reframe negative self-talk.

Great resource for anyone wanting to explore self-esteem work through a narrative lens, whether you're brand new to therapy or just want a more hands-on way to reflect.

This book offers an insightful approach to narrative therapy, especially for those curious about how our internal stories shape our mental and emotional well-being. It presents a compelling framework for identifying and reshaping inner thoughts through writing, outlining personal themes, and re-authoring one's story. While the approach may initially appear simplistic, the work is far deeper—it invites readers to uncover nuanced meanings and engage with their internal dialogue in meaningful ways. What stands out is the book’s emphasis on personal agency and the idea that we are not defined by our problems, but by the stories we choose to tell us about them. It encourages a reflective and empowering process, though it becomes clear that applying this in real life takes practice and persistence. That said, I found myself wondering how many common themes are presented. The book does present real life examples to help identify common themes and transform their stories. Overall, this is a thought-provoking and useful read for those interested in narrative therapy, offering strong foundational tools for self-exploration while leaving room to grow through experience and further study.

Read it and it will give you hope and help you trust your capacity to improve your emotions and your behaviour.

As someone who teaches a variety of psychology courses, I’m always on the prowl for fresh resources that present concepts in new and engaging ways, and this workbook really delivered. I especially appreciated the narrative-style review and the unique, thoughtfully designed activities throughout.
The author's tone is warm, encouraging, and genuinely uplifting, making it a fantastic tool for anyone working on self-esteem. It's well-structured, easy to use, and full of charm. It doesn't feel overwhelming, forced, or silly. Some workbooks can feel a bit out there, which doesn't help if someone struggles with self-judgment, but this one avoids that problem entirely.

As a therapist, I found The Narrative Therapy Workbook for Self-Esteem to be a valuable and accessible resource for both clinicians and clients. The exercises are thoughtfully designed to help individuals re-author their personal narratives in ways that are empowering and strengths-based. The workbook integrates core principles of narrative therapy—such as externalization, identifying unique outcomes, and exploring alternative stories—while keeping the tone compassionate and non-pathologizing.

What I appreciate most is how the workbook encourages clients to reflect on their values, skills, and lived experiences through writing and self-inquiry. It’s particularly well-suited for clients struggling with inner criticism or a negative self-image. I’ve used several of the prompts in session and assigned others as homework, with positive feedback from clients.

Overall, it’s a useful tool for therapists who want to incorporate narrative techniques into self-esteem work in a structured, client-friendly format.

I loved the way this was laid out - the chapters broken down to help you understand how to use the information. It was very easy to follow and helpful in working through it. With that being said I still sometimes had a hard time with the "your turn" part. I think it was more about me being able to "rewrite" my narrative. It really helped me to realize where I was sabotaging myself though. I see myself returning to this book to remind me to stay positive with my narrative.

If you're looking to work on your self esteem then do read this book. It would be a good addition to journaling, meditation, and/or mindfulness.

I was already familiar with narrative therapy, but the author taught me a lot I didn't already know. This is an empowering book about reauthoring your story. I loved that the author included rethinking how we communicate our story. He really brought storytelling alive, and if you use this workbook, you will walk away empowered with tools to reshape how you think of yourself individually and collectively. I work in mental health and will definitely be ordering a copy of this to use in my job. This book was 100% a 5 star read.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy. This review was my own opinion based on using the workbook in its entirety.

I have mixed feelings about this book.

The Pros:
Well laid out
Clear examples and explanations on how to do tasks

Cons:
Occasionally it felt a little condescending
I don't think I fall into the category of people that would benefit from this, though others might.

I recommend getting it as a physical copy as it would be easier to do the exercises in a physical book instead of having to copy them over to a notebook.

An interesting workbook-it sets you up to work on yourself, by literary writing your story or rewriting it. An interesting approach that will hopefully help you gain insight into who you are and raise your self-esteem in the process.

I worked through the workbook step by step and while some part I didn't like, I mostly enjoyed the process!

Fantastic, great material! Looking forwarding to using this to help future clients and support my work as a therapist.

This is a really cool concept, and I love that it is so structured and easy to follow step by step. I can see this being incredibly useful for people who are feeling stuck and unable to distance themselves from maladaptive core beliefs.

As a clincial social work student, I've really enjoyed studying narrative therapy and learning the approach to use with clients. I loved this workbook and getting to practice the concepts in my own life and experiences. It's a great resource to encourage self-reflection and compassionate curiosity about oneself. Thank you to New Harbinger Publications and NetGalley for the e-ARC!