Rewriting Your Story, Reclaiming Your Life
Cathy Armstrong MS, LPC-S, RN
Narrative Therapy & ACT: Rewriting Your Story, Reclaiming Your Life. When Old Stories Keep You Stuck. The narratives we carry about ourselves—"I’m not good enough," "I always fail," "I’m broken," "I hurt people"—can become prisons. These thin conclusions, formed during moments of pain or trauma, shape how we see ourselves and limit what we believe is possible. But what if those stories aren’t the whole truth? What if you could rewrite them?
What is narrative therapy?
Narrative Therapy recognizes that we are the authors of our own stories—but sometimes, we’ve been telling ourselves incomplete or harmful narratives for so long that we’ve forgotten we have the power to rewrite them.
The Problem is the Problem—Not You
Narrative Therapy externalizes difficulties, helping you see that anxiety, depression, guilt, or trauma are problems you’re facing, not who you are at your core. This shift creates space for compassion, clarity, and change.
From Thin Conclusions to Thick Descriptions
Thin conclusions are the simplified, often shame-based stories we tell ourselves: “I’m a failure,” “I always mess things up,” “I can’t trust myself.” These narratives ignore context, complexity, and the full truth of your experience.
Thick descriptions honor the richness of your life—your intentions, your circumstances, your resilience, your growth. They allow you to see yourself as someone who has survived, adapted, and deserves compassion.
Re-authoring your preferred story
Together, we identify the dominant narratives that no longer serve you and explore alternative stories—stories where your strength, values, and wisdom take center stage. You become the author of a narrative that reflects who you truly you're truly becoming to be. What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
ACT is a powerful, evidence-based approach that helps you develop psychological flexibility—the ability to be present with difficult emotions, defuse from unhelpful thoughts, and take action aligned with your values even when it’s hard.
The Six Core Processes of ACT:
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Cognitive Defusion: Learning to observe your thoughts without being controlled, manipulated, or distracted by them. " I'm having the thought that I'm not good enough vs." " I'm having the thought that I'm not good enough.
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Acceptance: Making room for painful emotions rather than fighting, avoiding, or suppressing them.
Acceptance isn’t resignation—it’s allowing feelings to be present without letting them dictate your choices.
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Present Moment Awareness: Cultivating mindfulness so you can engage fully with your life as it unfolds, rather than being lost in rumination or overwhelming worry and fear.
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Self-as-Context: Recognizing that you are more than your thoughts, feelings, or stories. You are the observer of your experience, not defined by it.
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Values Clarification: Identifying what truly matters to you—in relationships, work, health, spirituality—and using those values as your compass.
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Committed Action: Taking steps, even small ones, toward a life that reflects your values, even when fear, grief, or uncertainty arise.
For women seeking gentle, meaningful healing
This approach is especially well-suited for women who:
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Have tried therapy before and want something more integrative
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Feel emotionally sensitive or easily overwhelmed
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Are navigating grief, identity changes, or life transitions
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Have a history of trauma and want a gentle, respectful pace
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Want to understand themselves, not just manage symptoms
Therapy here at EmpowerHer Wellness Center is collaborative, compassionate, and deeply respectful of your inner timing.
Contact Us:
6901 Holly Road
Corpus Christi, Texas 78414
P: (361) 688-8200
Email: cathyarmstronglpc@gmail.com
Specialties: Trauma-informed counseling for women, Narrative Therapy, ACT, grief counseling, relationship repair, anxiety treatment, clinical hypnosis, somatic therapies.
"Healing unfolds through understanding, choice, and reconnection to what matters most."
EmpowerHer Wellness Center