postmodern approaches ©2013 brooks/cole cengage learning

Chapter 13

Postmodern Approaches

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning

Social Constructionism: Key Concepts Postmodernists assume there are multiple

truths -

Reality is subjective and is based on the use of language

Postmodernists strive for a collaborative and consultative stance

Postmodern thought has an impact on the development of many theories

Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 13 (3)©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage

Learning

Social Constructionism The client, not the therapist, is the expert

Dialogue is used to elicit perspective, resources, and unique client experiences

Questions empower clients to speak and to express their diverse positions

The therapist supplies optimism and the process

Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 13 (1 )©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage

Learning

Social ConstructionismTherapy Goals Generate new meanings in the lives of clients

Co-develop, with clients, solutions that are unique to the situation

Enhance awareness of the impact of various aspects of the dominant culture on the individual

Help people develop alternative ways of being, acting, knowing, and living


Learning

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) Therapy grounded on a positive orientation--

people are healthy and competent

SFBT shares similarities with positive psychology

Past is downplayed, while present and future are highlighted

Therapy is concerned with looking for what is working


Learning

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Therapists assist clients in finding

exceptions to their problems

There is a shift from “problem-orientation” to “solution-focus”

Emphasis is on constructing solutions rather than problem solving


Learning

Basic Assumptions of SFBT

The problem itself may not be relevant to finding effective solutions

People can create their own solutions

Small changes lead to large changes


Learning

Basic Assumptions of SFBT

The client is the expert on his or her own life

The best therapy involves a collaborative partnership

A therapist’s “not knowing” affords the client an opportunity to construct a solution


Learning

Questions in SFBT

Skillful questions allow people to utilize their

resources

Asking “how questions” that imply change

can be useful

Effective questions focus attention on

solutionsTheory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 13 (8)©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage

Learning

Questions in SFBT

Questions can get clients to notice when things were better

Useful questions ◦help people pay attention to what they

are doing ◦open up possibilities to do something

different


Learning

Types of Relationships in SFBT

Customer-type relationship: Client and therapist jointly identify a problem and a solution to work toward

Complainant relationship: A client describes a problem, but is not able or willing to take an active role in constructing a solution

Visitors: Clients come to therapy because someone else thinks they have a problem


Learning

Techniques Used in SFBT

Pre-therapy change ◦What have you done since you made the

appointment that has made a difference in your problem?

Exception questions ◦Direct clients to times in their lives when

the problem did not exist


Learning


Miracle question ◦If a miracle happened and the problem you

have was solved, what would be different in your life?

Scaling questions ◦On a scale of zero to 10, where zero is the

worst you have been and 10 represents the problem being solved, where are you with respect to __________?


Learning


Formula First session Task◦ From 1st to 2nd session- observe things in

your life that you want to maintain

Therapist Feedback end of sessions◦ Compliment◦ Bridge – rational for suggestion/homework◦Tasks

Observational Task – focus on positive changes

Behavioral Task – do more of or do differently Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 13 (12)

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning

Contributions of the Postmodern Approaches Optimistic orientation helps clients make

significant moves toward building more satisfying lives in a relatively short period of time

The postmodern approaches’ dim view of

diagnosis remind us that people cannot be reduced to a specific problem


Learning

Contributions of the Postmodern Approaches A major strength of solution-focused a

therapy is the use of questioning to generate solutions

Brief therapy has been shown to be effective for a wide range of clinical problems


Learning

Limitations of thePostmodern Approaches Therapists must be skilled in implementing

brief interventions

Therapists may employ techniques in a mechanistic fashion

Reliance on techniques may detract from building a therapeutic relationship


Learning

postmodern approaches ©2013 brooks/cole cengage learning

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