The Narrative Therapy Institute, LLC
Paul Gallant, PhD, LMFT, LCSW
Virginia Maxfield, MA, LCSW
A warm welcome to the website for the Narrative Therapy Institute. Opened in 2005, the Institute is devoted to the development of the Narrative Therapy approach in clinical practice and community work.
Located in Athens, Georgia, we provide counseling services for individuals, couples, children, teens, and families.
For practitioners throughout the world, we offer consulting, workshops, training, and supervision in Narrative Therapy.
It’s our hope that you’ll find the assistance you are looking for here on our website. We look forward to connecting with you soon!
Who We Are
Paul Gallant, PhD, LMFT, LCSW
For over 30 years, Paul has been practicing therapy in family service agencies, residential programs, psychiatric units, and in university settings where doctoral and masters students receive supervision and training in family therapy. He is passionate about applying ideas and practices from Narrative Therapy to his clinical work.
He has written numerous articles and book chapters about his work with people who have been challenged by habits of self-harm, those whose identities have been affected by trauma and abuse, couples whose relationships have been threatened by conflict, and young people whose lives are governed by hopelessness.
Specialty: Individuals, Couples, Families
Virginia Maxfield, MA, MSW, LCSW
Virginia is a therapist, artist, and former art teacher who has worked with children and adults in public and private schools, with teens in juvenile detention, and with all populations in workshop settings. She enjoys coming together with her clients in creative ways.
Some of her past projects focused on heroes for children, role models for young girls, and celebrating elders and community history. Her study of the ideas of Narrative Therapy led her to try out new ways of working with students in the classroom which then led to her study of clinical social work. She now uses these ideas in collaborating with children, parents, teens, and older adults.
Specialty: Children and their Parents, Teens, Older Adults
As a married couple,
Paul and Virginia have been working together since 2005 when they developed The Narrative Therapy Institute to promote narrative therapy ideas and practices.
They see clients in counseling sessions and together they have presented nationally and internationally, sharing their clinical experience and providing opportunities for participants to engage in skill practice.
Our Approach
Narrative Therapy is a respectful and collaborative approach to working with people that accesses one’s knowledge and skills in addressing problems that have come into a person’s or a family’s life. The work of narrative therapy is ethically based and founded on principles of social justice.
Some of the beliefs that influence the work of narrative therapists include:
- The Problem is the Problem.
The focus is on naming, measuring, and evaluating the effects of the Problems that come into people’s lives. The work is to join with people and families to undermine the effects of Problems. The goal is to isolate and eliminate Problems from one’s life and relationships.
- People are the experts in their own lives.
A narrative approach relies on the sincere belief that people have wisdom, strengths, skills, and values that can be used to weaken the effects of Problems in their lives.
- People’s lives are multi-storied.
Problems can blind people to their own good qualities, abilities, hopes, and dreams. A narrative therapist is interested in having conversations that contribute to an enriched story of oneself, one’s relationships, and one’s place in the world.
Fees for Service
Counseling
Paul $150/session
Virginia $125/session
We accept payments in cash, check, or credit card.
PAYMENT - PAUL
Paul takes the following insurance plans and will collect your copayment and file for you:
BlueCross/Blue Shield
Aetna
If you have another insurance company, you will be charged our regular fee but we can provide you with a receipt to submit to your insurance company.
PAYMENT - VIRGINIA
Virginia is an out-of-network provider and does not file for insurance.
You will be charged our regular fee and, if you choose, we can provide you with a receipt to submit to your insurance company for any out-of-network benefits they may provide.
NOTE: Some plans require pre-authorization; you may want to check with your insurance company before beginning services with us to insure you will receive your benefits.
Workshops, Training, Supervision, Consultation
Contact us for further information on fees for these services.
Contact Us
We look forward to hearing from you.
Paul Gallant
Virginia Maxfield
Tel: 706-510-5525
Email: narrativeinstitute@mac.com
Tel: 407-949-7941
Email: maxfieldtherapy@gmail.com