How To Use The Tree Of Life In Your Sessions

Did you know that you can help empower your clients to heal themselves through the art of storytelling? Some people are barely surviving under the weight of their own stories. They have these unhealthy beliefs and thoughts as a result of the stories they tell themselves, making them feel lost and disempowered. You can help them regain confidence and trust in themselves with Narrative Therapy, which will help them explore and gain control of their personal narrative and break free of what keeps them feeling imprisoned. The Tree of Life is a concept that has helped many patients find confidence and clarity. 

The Tree of Life Concept

The tree acts as a visual metaphor for you and your life and the different components that make it up, such as the past, present and future. Labeling these different parts and using the metaphor of the tree helps people zoom out and see their life from a different perspective and analyze the way that past experiences impacted them without retraumatizing themselves. Instead, it helps them strengthen their relationship with themselves by allowing them to get to know themselves on a much deeper level. As a result, this also allows them to strengthen their relationships with their own history and their loved ones. Here is how the exercise works:

Start by drawing a tree.

After you roughly sketch out your tree, you can start the labeling process. Keep in mind as you label that you don’t need to strain yourself thinking about things to put in each section. Ideally, as you complete each step, you will think of more ideas and uncover memories from the past. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, just start writing and see where you end up.

The roots

Draw your roots underneath the tree. The roots are meant to represent where you come from. In the area where you drew the roots, write down where you come from. This can be the physical location you were born or grew up, your culture, your parents, or anything that you feel shaped your childhood.

The ground

On the ground, write what you choose to do on a weekly basis. Keep in mind that these are things that you choose to do for yourself. 

The trunk

On the tree trunk, write out what you think your skills and values are. Start by writing your values at the bottom of the trunk and work your way up. Towards the top, list out all of your skills.

The branches

On the branches, write out your hopes, dreams, and wishes. These can be your deepest, darkest wishes, or they can be general wishes for the world, etc. They can be as small or as vast as you would like. 

The leaves

On the leaves, write out all the names of your loved ones and those who have positively shaped your life.

The fruits

Where you draw your fruits, write down all the things you have inherited from your loved ones and in general. This can be material inheritances, or it can be traits that have been passed down to you, like compassion, bravery, or perseverance. 

The flowers

Write down what you would like to pass down to others on the area that you draw your flowers.

We hope this exercise helps you and your clients take control of their stories and find their authentic selves. If you are interested in implementing the narrative therapy approach in your practice, we offer narrative clinical training and monthly programs, including a narrative therapy study group and peer-to-peer supervision