Paradoxical Psychotherapy

Question 1

first-order change

Answer 1

-change within the system
-directly attempt to reduce the frequency or intensity of the symptom
-push back the client’s resistance harder with the same approach/technique/methods

-e.g., client has an anger outburst –> therapist tells client not to react that way when angry

Question 2

second-order change

Answer 2

-attempts to change the system itself
-change the context within which the symptom occurs
-never ask the client to change the system directly - indirectly change the symptom, no direct confrontation
-use resistance of the client to help change occur
-unbalancing the system and changing the context will lead to a reduction in symptoms

Question 3

What is the goal of paradoxical approach?

Answer 3

Force client to take responsibility for the symptom because, ultimately, the client has the power to have or not have the symptom. Increase the discomfort for the symptom in the client to make change more appealing to them, so they are less likely to accept continuing as they are.

Question 4

therapeutic bind

Answer 4

clients are in conflict about change –> disrupting the balance may be more difficult than removing the symptoms unless the symptoms get really bad

in paradoxical therapy, however the client responds, that will result in health for the client because therapist only presents beneficial alternatives

Question 5

two possible outcomes for clients in a therapeutic bind

Answer 5

1) Resistance - client resists by giving up the symptom to spite therapist since therapist expressed doubt about potential for change or about their ability to help the client
2) compliance - client complies with therapist to enact the symptom, but they do so by enacting the symptom with a change –> thus, demonstrates client is not powerless and if they can make the symptom happen, they can make it not happen

Question 6

evidence-based practices

Answer 6

empirical evidence demonstrating the efficacy of interventions that you must tailor depending on the type of client you have - can’t treat all clients with the same interventions robotically, must consider that everyone’s symptom may have a different function for them