Efficacy of Narrative Therapy in Addressing Negative Self-Concept Among Adolescents in Correctional Schools in Anambra State

Negative self-concept is a pervasive psychological characteristic of adolescents in correctional and juvenile justice settings, often emerging from internalised stigmatised identities linked to criminal labelling and social exclusion. This study examined the efficacy of narrative therapy in addressing negative self-concept among adolescents in correctional schools in Anambra State, South East Nigeria. A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design with a control group was used, with 50 adolescents selected from two correctional schools in Onitsha and Awka. The experimental group received twelve narrative therapy sessions structured around externalisation, re-authoring, and witnessing practices, while the control group received standard correctional guidance activities. The Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS-2) was administered at both stages. Analysis of covariance was applied. Findings revealed a statistically significant improvement in self-concept scores among narrative therapy participants, with the most pronounced gains in the identity, family, and personal self subscales. The externalisation technique was identified as most transformative in disrupting internalised problem narratives. The study provides the first systematic evidence for narrative therapy in the Nigerian correctional school context, contributing to a literature gap identified in recent counselling research reviews. Recommendations included training correctional school counsellors in narrative therapy, adopting restorative and identity-affirming language in correctional education policies, and developing aftercare counselling programmes for adolescents transitioning from correctional schools. Keywords: narrative therapy, self-concept, correctional schools, adolescents, Anambra State.