Minimum Useful Record
A minimally complete map includes a separate problem name and at least one characteristic, effect, pattern, or relationship note.
Separate the person from the problem in a shared map
Externalising Conversation Map is a narrative therapy tool for practitioners and clients. It helps them understand a problem as separate from the person by recording a separate problem name, the problem's characteristics or patterns, and the client's relationship to the problem.
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Tool guide
Learn more about this tool
Use this background section to understand when the tool fits, how practitioners use it, and what to consider before sharing it with clients.
What It Does Not Do
The map does not diagnose, rate severity, assign causes, or impose the correct externalized name.
Can the problem name be provisional?
Yes. Candidate names can remain unresolved and be revised without deleting the history of the conversation.
Does the tool require original wording?
No. Original wording comparison is optional and can be turned off.
Does the map provide a diagnosis?
No. It records externalized language and reported relationship notes; it does not diagnose or rate severity.