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Postmodern Therapy

Definition

Postmodern therapy is a psychological approach to deconstructing the beliefs previously established by empirical assumptions in the field of psychology. Contrary to traditional psychotherapy where the therapist takes an authoritative position with the patient, postmodern therapy relies on working collaboratively to achieve reciprocal dialogue. (CRC Health, 2015)

Founders of Postmodern Therapy

Michael White and David Epston: Originally social workers and family therapists, Michael White and David Epston began practicing innovative and effective approaches to addressing childhood trauma through narrative storytelling. Through creative outlet like personal writings, White and Epston’s therapy approach would help patients reconcile past conflicts by addressing their abusers. (New York Times, Pearce, 2008)

Kim Berg and Steve de Shazer: Kim Berg and Steve de Shazer were psychotherapists that began their early careers in family service related therapies but later moved on to a more divers range of addiction and social service based research. They founded the postmodern therapy approach called solution focused brief therapy. (Brief Family Therapy Center, 1982)

Narrative Therapy

A self-assessment based on personal social-cultural experience. This form of postmodern therapy relies on the patient’s ability to assess their behavioral and internal expectations according to their community and social environment. This type of therapy approach relies on the patient’s ability to scrutinize their behavior through various perspectives. Two people who are considered the co-founders are Michael White and David Epston. (Narrative Therapy, 2015)

Concepts of Narrative Therapy

• Maintaining open-mindedness when patients are talking and encourage patients to talk about their experiences is at the root of narrative therapy

• This postmodern therapy is practiced when the therapist is able to listen to a story enmeshed in problems but never makes the patient feel alienated

• Therapists show that they are interested in what patients have to say in a respectful way

• The patient is not the issue, but the issues itself are the focus and what treatment is directed towards. (California State University Northridge, Grant)

What to look for in Narrative Therapy

• Check if there is a certain sequence of events that have happened in the patient’s life which reveal a pattern

• Evaluate the significance of what different cultural symbols represent to the patient’s life and how the patient view him or herself

• Identify the effects associated with social context alterations (California State University Northridge, Grant)

Solution-Focused Therapy

Method of problem solving which focuses on finding solutions and practical steps to solve problems. This form of therapy does not rely on hindsight; the focus is exclusively future oriented and is not concerned with the origins of problems. The co-founders of is therapy practice are Kim Berg and Steve de Shazer. (SFBTA, Insoo Kim Berg)

Concepts of Solution-Focused Therapy

• The past is not discussed or focused on, what matters is the present and future

• This approach focuses on what is actually showing results for the patient

• During this type of therapy, the psychologist will avoid extended, inaccessible, or complicated language in therapy sessions. (California State University Northridge, Grant)

Assumptions of Solution-Focused Therapy

• The patient is capable of finding his or her own personal resolutions

• The patient is the one who knows more about his or her personal life

• The ultimate type of therapy is the therapy where both the therapist and the patient work together to reach solutions (California State University Northridge, Grant)

Types of Relationships in Solution-Focused Therapy

• Customer-Type Relationship: Relationship where the patient and the therapist communicate to determine what the issue is and what resolution can be perused

• Complainant Relationship: Relationship where the patient identifies an issue, but does not work on finding a resolution to his or her issue

• Visitors: People who elect to begin therapy but not because they have a diagnosed problem, but rather another person told them they ought to do therapy. (California State University Northridge, Grant)

Collaborative Language Systems

A Collaborative Language System is a method in which the therapist and patient communicate in order to reach solutions. The therapist creates a comfortable environment where the patient feels able to open up and freely share experiences. This collaborative open discussion creates a pedagogic discourse where the psychologist is talking with the patient instead of down to the patient. (CRC Health, 2015)

Deconstruction and Creating Alternative Stories

When patients reflect upon past mistakes, the therapist will reinforce the importance of moving forward before building any new experiences; the experiences that are filled with problems need to be eliminated. This therapy believes the patient has control over determining his or her own life and that exploring possibilities will help patients concentrate on their future. (California State University Northridge, Grant)

Social Constructionism

This approach relies on a role reversal to achieve communication. Instead of the therapist being the specialist, the patient assumes that role. The conversation between the therapist and the patient serves the purpose of evoking the patient’s opinion and any distinct incidents. The questions asked when using this approach are meant to encourage the patient to speak freely in a comfortable environment along with optimistic statements from the therapist as reinforcement. (California State University Northridge, Grant)

Goals of Social Constructionism

• Redefine the patient’s outlook on his or her life

• Therapist works with the patient to create unique resolutions for each individual’s problems and issues

• Increase the level of awareness of how the predominant culture affects each person differently

• Assist patients in creating different ways of existing and behaving within mainstream culture and society (California State University Northridge, Grant).

Concepts of Social Constructionism

• Therapists who practice postmodern therapy techniques presume there is more than one truth

• Reality caters to one’s interpretation and it stems from language

• Therapists attempt to communicate with the patient in order to reach a conclusion

• The idea of postmodernism can be a foundation of creating new theories (California State University Northridge, Grant).

Constructivist Narrative Perspective

A method of postmodern therapy that places emphasis on what the patient has to tell about themselves and others regarding important incidents with the assumption that realities are not set in stone. Rather, reality is determined and constructed by societal forces. In this method, the therapist needs to avoid personal opinions on what the true definition of reality is. The therapist’s job is to assist the patients in building their personal reality. In addition to teaching the patient how to write this reality, the therapist is essentially helping the patient create future goals to strive for in their personal reality. (California State University Northridge, Grant)

When is Postmodern Therapy Utilized?

Postmodern therapy has proven effective in treating a variety of disorders and psychological afflictions. Some of these include family and social service therapy, eating disorders, depression, addiction, ADHD, and schizophrenia. (CRC Health, 2015)