Narrative Medicine Small Group Practice: A Step-by-Step Facilitation Guide

Narrative medicine activities strengthen one's ability to listen, witness, and communicate in healthcare settings. Using a standardized approach to looking, listening, reflecting, and experiencing creative works together, narrative competence can be developed and taught in a small group setting. An increasing number of health professional schools and training programs incorporate narrative medicine activities in elective and required curricula. Narrative medicine facilitators undergo training to skillfully lead small groups but often seek ongoing resources to bolster their training. This guide is a resource to support newly trained facilitators. Framed in a step-by-step approach with an accompanying graphic vignette of a narrative medicine activity from start to finish, this manuscript is both a functional guide and a depiction of the practical application of arts and humanities in medicine. This guide is intended to be used by clinicians, educators, scholars, patient advocates, and others who lead narrative medicine activities in their own unique communities and workplaces.