Center for the Study of Narrative
Encouraging Interdisciplinary Dialogue and Collaborative Research
Compassion. Insight. Movement.
The Center for the Study of Narrative (CSN), aims to capture and digitize personal narratives or compelling stories that move us to community action. Within these narratives, we hope to share what we have learned to help others along their journey of healing. The Center fulfills its mandate through the following initiatives:
Inspiration for the Center’s mission stems from the work of various professionals in the field of counseling. Faculty and student collaborators draw from these influences to make the Center a valuable resource for Mercerians and the wider community.
Narrative Therapy
Narrative Therapy is a collaborative and non-pathologizing approach to counseling and community work that centers people as the experts of their own lives.
Digital Storytelling
Digital storytelling is a relatively new term that describes the practice of ordinary people using digital tools to tell their stories. Digital stories often present in compelling and emotionally engaging formats and can be interactive. The process of digital storytelling enables diverse peoples to share their life stories and creative imaginings with others.
Narrative Projects
Our students apply narrative therapy in various projects, including Stephanie Garcia’s digital narrative, Chasing the American Dream. Learn about the Great Migration from George Starling’s perspective (a character from The Warmth of Other Suns), American poet Richard Wright, personal migration, and more.