Ch 13: Postmodern Approaches Flashcards
founders
no single founder; multiple founders
modernists
believe in the ability to desire the objective reality accurately and assume that it can be observed and systematically known throughout the scientific method
people seek therapy for problems they believe have deviated from normal
postmodernists
do not believe realities exist independent of observational processes and of the language systems within which they are described
social constructionism
psychological expression of postmodern worldview
values the client’s reality without disputing whether it is accurate or reasonable
client Is the experts of their own lives
narratives
the focus for both understanding individuals and helping them construct desired changes
social constructionist theory
grounded on the premise that knowledge is constructed through social processes
postmodernist thought
influencing the development of many psychotherapy theories and contemporary psychotherapeutic practice
socially storied lives
best-known postmodern perspectives
collaborative language systems approach (anderson and goolishian)
solution-focused brief therapy (de Shazer)
solution-oriented therapy
narrative therapy
motivational interviewing
feminist therapy
three of the most significant postmodern approaches
solution-focused brief therapy
motivational interviewing
narrative therapy
collaborative language systems approach
not-knowing position
client is the expert
not-knowing position
therapists retain their knowledge and experiential capacities, but allow themselves to enter the conversation with curiosity and with an intense interest in discovery
Pioneers of solution-focused brief therapy
Insoo Kim Berg
Steve de Shazer
solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT)
future-focused, goal oriented therapeutic approach to brief therapy
emphasizes strengths and resiliences of people by focusing on exceptions to their problems and their conceptualized solutions
optimistic
clients have the potential to find alternative possibilities for change
solution-focused philosophy
rests on the assumption that people can become mired in unresolved past conflicts and blocked when they focus on past or present problems rather than on future solutions
positive orientation
solution-focused brief therapy is grounded on the optimistic assumption that people are healthy and competent and have the ability to construct solutions that can enhance their lives
looking for what is working
SFBT focuses on what is working in a clients life
assist clients to identify exceptions t their problem patterns, or their instances of success
basic assumptions of SFBT
individuals have the capability of behaving effectively, effectiveness blocked by negative cognitions
there are advantages to a positive focus on solutions and on the future
there are exceptions to every problem, or times when the problem was absent
clients often present only one side of themselves
no problem is constant, and change is inevitable
clients are doing their best to make change happen
clients can be trusted in their intention to solve their problems
characteristics of brief therapy
rapid working alliance between therapist and client
clear specification of achievable treatment goals
clear division of responsibilities between client and therapist
emphasis on clients strengths, competencies, and adaptive capacities
expectation that change is possible and realistic and that improvement can occur in the immediate future
here-and-now orientation with a primary focus on current functioning unthinking, feeling, and behaving
specific, integrated, and pragmatic/eclectic techniques
periodic assessment of progress toward goals and outcomes
time sensitive, making the most of each session
Steps to SFBT
- clients are given the opportunity to describe their problems
- the therapist works with clients in developing well-formed goals or preferred futures as soon as possible “what will be different in your life when your problems are solved”
- the therapist asks clients about those times when their problems were not present or less severe
- therapist offers clients summary feedback, provides, encouragement, and suggests what clients might observe or do before the next session to future solve their problem
- the therapist and clients evaluate the progress being made in reaching satisfactory solutions by using a rating scale
therapeutic goals
goals are dependent and unique to the client
therapist must have clarity and be in agreement with client on goals to be worked on
3 main criteria of creating well-defined goals
- start-based (stated in positive terms/something client wants)
- specific (concrete, observable, measurable, detailed, behavioral description)
- social (description of what significant others would notice, how they might respond, and how their responses would affect the client)
forms of goals
changing the viewing of a situation
changing the doing of the situation
tapping clients strengths and resources
therapists function and role
adopt a not-knowing position; client is the expert
create equal environment
help client imagine life differently
three kinds of relationships that may develop between therapists and clients
customer: jointly identify a problem and solution to work toward
complainant: client describes a problem but it not able or willing to assume a role in constructing a solution, believing that a solution is dependent on someone else’s actions
visitor: the client comes to therapy because someone else thinks the client has a problem
therapeutic techniques and procedures
pre-therapy change
questioning
exception questions
the miracle question
scaling questions
formula first session task
feedback
terminating
pre-therapy change
ask what changes have happened since booking the appointment/session
can amplify things clients have already done by way of making positive change