Postmodern Approaches Flashcards
Key concepts
Brief, focus on present and future, person isn’t the problem, externalizes problem and looks for exceptions, by finding instances where the problem didn’t exist clients create new meaning
Basic philosophy
Based on premiss there are multiple realities and truths, reality is internal, meaning created through conversations, avoid pathologizing, avoid searching for underlying causes, high value on discovering clients strengths. Focus on solutions not problems
Therapy goals
To change view of problems, collaboratively establish clear realistic goals, create self identity grounded in competence and resourcefulness. View life positively,
Therapist client relationship
Collaborative, clients expert on their own life, therapist has an active role in guiding client toward solution talk, and encourage client to look at strengths.
Techniques
Change talk, creative questioning, miracle question, scaling questions. Listening without getting stuck, externalizing, naming the problem, externalizing conversations, discovering clues to competence, narrative therapists often write letters to clients
Applications
Adjustment dissorders, anxiety, depression, narrative therapy used for eating dissorders, family distress, depression, relationship concerns,
Applied to children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and other places in community, schools and group counselling settings.
Multicultural contributions and limitations
+focus on social and cultural context of behaviour! stories authored in therapy fit social context! no assumptions about clients! honours unique cultural and social backgrounds! active role in challenging injustices! liberation from oppressive cultural values
-some clients want to talk about problems and are put off my solution focus, clients reluctant to view themselves as experts, doubt helpfulness of therapist with not knowing stance
Contributions and limitations
+Fit well with limitations imposed by managed care structure, emphasis On client strength appeals to clients who want solutions and positive change, clients are not blamed but helped, questioning encourages clients to view themselves in new ways
-little empirical validation of effectiveness, endorses cheerleading and overly positive perspective, practitioners can implement techniques without sound rationale since they’re easy to learn
Customer type relationship
Client and therapist jointly identify problem and work toward solution
Complainant relationship
Client describes problem but can’t or won’t take part in process to find solution
Visitors
Client is in therapy because someone else thinks they have a problem
Narrative therapy
Therapists listen, encourage, don’t get stuck, demonstrate respectful curiosity and persistence, believe person is not the problem.
Name problem, separate from client, investigate how problem effects client, search for exceptions, create new audience for new story
Functions of narrative therapist
Active facilitator, believe in clients abilities, demonstrate care and empathy, adopt not knowing position, help client create preferred story, create collaborative relationship with client as the senior partner
What is externalizing?
Separations person from problem
