In what way postmodern approaches to family therapy are similar to narrative therapy?

Families are said to constitute realities in which most of one’s attributes are constructed, based on the family interactions, beliefs, values as well as the behaviours that are seen in the specific families one is brought up into (Archer & McCarthy, 2007).
However, even though most of one’s personal characteristics may be heavily influenced by their families; people do have a sense of individuality that makes them unique from any other person in the family (Becvar & Becvar, 2013). Therefore, one may argue that it is these differences that may cause misunderstandings in families.
With this understanding, families often need help to resolve their predicaments, to be able to function together as a unit to different entities (Murdock, 2013).
Scholars…show more content…
2. Postmodern approach to family therapy
The postmodern approach to family therapy is believed to have forwarded a new way of thinking about families and relationships within a family structure. It was developed post the modernism approach and aimed to challenge some its views (Robideau, 2008).
According to Robideau (2008), modernism emphasised the notion of the objective observer, which distinguished between the experts with knowledge and the families whose reality had to resemble what was defined as the functional family. With this approach, counsellors are seen as experts who ought to help families become what is defined as a functional family, and disregards the positive attributes of the family system (Robideau, 2008).
Postmodernism is a theoretical approach that was introduced during the 1980s (Robideau, 2008). It rejects the idea of an expert, who alone possesses the true meaning and correct answers to what defines reality; it accepts that reality is a product of subjective experiences and perceptions, and will therefore have varied interpretations and definitions (Hertlein Lambert-Shute & Benson,…show more content…
Social constructionism
Social constructionism places emphasis on the idea that reality is a product of the knowledge and perceptions that a group of people agree upon. It focuses on the construction of reality within groups (Robideau, 2008).
For instance the meaning of what constitutes femininity may be similar across different South African cultures. This may serve as a guide for the South African communities, however with the progression of time, it is evident that the notion of femininity has evolved, which shows that reality is constructed through human relationships and interaction, and can change from time to time (Robideau, 2008).
This is seen when the understanding of femininity evolved from females being expected to stay at home and ensure the well-being of the family; to the present times, where women can be employed and contribute to the financial stability of the family (Langen, 2005).
In this way social constructionism can be said to helpful in family therapy in that it recognises the different values and perceptions upheld in large cultural or ethnic groups, and how they help define a functional family relative to a specific time in history (Robideau, 2008). It also recognises that the meaning and interpretation of a reality is created and can be altered through conversation (Robideau,

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Introduction

Defining postmodern therapy

Life is based on certain common beliefs held by people unanimously. Postmodern therapy is a field in psychology that concentrates on deconstructing these beliefs as well as examining their value in a person’s life (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2001).

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Some of the subjects where postmodern therapy has been so much felting are, for instance, the definition of the term success. Success attracts a number of different approaches in its definition based on individual understanding of the word. Success if different as it is comprehended differently from one person to the other. Some uphold the materialistic definition of success, where it is measured by the amount of property owned and monetary value attached to the property. Other people find success to be an emotional feeling of contentment with life and being satisfied regardless of the financial circumstances.

Types of postmodern therapy

There are three different types of postmodern therapy, namely, narrative therapy, collaborative therapy, and solution-focused therapy.

Narrative therapy

The first type of three postmodern therapies is narrative therapy. This is a psychotherapy that uses narration as a form of treatment. The therapy was conceptualized in Australia by two colleagues in the 1970’s. The narrative theory holds the idea that an individual’s identity is explained through their life experience according to their narrations (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2001).

. Narrative therapists are interested in getting to understand the patient’s life story and way of life in order to comprehend the influences his or her environment has contributed to his or her problem. People through narrative therapy are able to reflect on their past and make changes that contribute to making them better people.

This involves a lot of investigation and soul searching. The therapist is characterized by numerous questioning while the client tries to regain their lost lives from the prevailing problem. The questions are designed to try and examine how the problem has impacted the lives of the client. The fact that the person is still responding to questions means that the problem has not overwhelmed him or her. Therefore some study comes up again regarding the client’s resilience to the problem.

Collaborative therapy

Under this theory, both the therapist and the client are given the same attention as both sides are given equal weight. The therapy involves the client more in the treatment process. Clients’ opinions regarding goals, directions, and responses during the treatment process is highly put into consideration. In this process, there is a lot of transparency where the client is made to understand the results of the process in a language they can comprehend (Boston, 2000). Clients can disagree or even ask questions as well as correct the therapist where they feel like he or she is wrong on a certain decision. Therapists in this theory are expected to have a not-knowing approach while initiating a treatment process. In addition, therapists must be flexible enough to allow alteration of their ideas whenever a client chooses to do so.

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Solution-focused therapy

This theory is also referred to as the “brief theory,” which is a theory that focuses on helping the client to achieve their goals in the treatment process rather than focusing on the problems of the client. Its focus is not based on the past of the client’s life events; rather, emphases are laid to the present situation and future expectations. The therapist asks the client questions regarding his or her story and resources that are the basis of the client’s exactions. This is a social constructionist approach to life. Therapists believe that a person’s life can be changed or be transformed if he or she establishes the things in their lives that they rather had changed. This gives the client an opportunity to pursue a life in a more objective approach by changing things they wish they had changed and also attending to the things they are happy about in their lives.

Benefits of postmodern therapy

The postmodern theory includes a number of personality theories. Why people behave, the way they do is, therefore, the real meaning of personality. Personality is an intrinsic development caused by certain body responses and traits that define an individual. There have been a number of developments to explain these traits and why they happen as well as how they happen. Consequently, this has led psychologists to developing theoretical explanations to define personality.

Mikulincer & Shaver (2001) define personality as “patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make a person unique.” Personalities have several characteristics including the fact that they are consistent through out an individual’s lifetime; they are both psychological and physiological processes, they influence behaviors and actions and that they are exhibited in more than just behavioral traits (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2001).

Types of personality theories include the attachment theory of the developmental theories. The others include Freuds theory of psychosexual development, Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, kohlberg’s theory of moral development, attachment theory and parenting styles (Boston, 2000). Some of these categories include behavioral theories, cognitive theories, developmental theories, humanistic theories, personality theories, social psychology theories as well as learning theories (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2001).

Postmodern therapy is a very reliable way of effecting solutions in psychosocial problems. For example, the narrative therapy takes the patients through the historical events in their life that helps to both the therapist and the client the root of the problem. With such an approach, a long term solution is reached upon. This insight through a reflection of the past is crucial in understanding a person’s behavior. The creators of the narrative therapy style were greatly impacted by social constructionism and constructivism. Both social constructionism and constructivism views refuted the general absolute truth ideology.

In contrast to this, the view holds that truth is based on language and societal interaction (Boston, 2000). Narrative therapy helps clients in finding out and building fresh realties, revealing meaning, mending the past problem and creating new narrations that outline influential ethnographies. Narrative therapy works out the problem by making it the center of focus and, re-constructs problem-saturated stories to increase the outlook of self, maps the effects of the problem over time, and predicts exclusive results that signify new truths and realizes client strengths (Boston, 2000).

Art and postmodern theory

While art has extensively been used for therapeutic and divine healing in many societies, as a specialized curative modality, it was conceptualized in 1940’s, owing to the hard work of art therapy initiators (Tap & Wright, 2005). Then it was viewed and regarded as a modality for persons with psychological illness. Art therapy with families had unprecedented origins. It is true that family art therapy has beginning comparable to those that stirred the growth of family systems theory (Boston, 2000). Boston (2000) gives the first guide for clinicians by means of art with families that incorporated a concise hypothetical combination of art and family therapy replica.

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In recent times, Hertlein, Lambert-Shute & Benson (2004) gave comprehensive deliberations of family therapy models and the combination of art therapy intercession into these diverse models. Hertlein, Lambert-Shute & Benson (2004) demonstration is diverse and commenced with a hierarchical psychoanalytic viewpoint on the significance of art yield. Consequently, this led to a more postmodern family systems approach where the counselor and the client co-constructed sense. Extra efforts that incorporated art therapy with family therapy were the development of the Kinetic Family Drawing “KFD” and strategy for assessment of these drawings (Hertlein, Lambert-Shute & Benson, 2004).

Impacts of the theory as a treatment process

These appraisal courses of action are very precise; for instance, the existence of a lawnmower is linked with antagonism (Sonkin & Dutton, 2003). While a lot of people may see these strategies at probability with present postmodern philosophy that hold several truths, the Kinetic Family Drawing is still practical instrument. Supplementary efforts to incorporate these two ideologies depict the application of art therapy as cure. Hertlein, Lambert-Shute & Benson (2004) illustrate in a clear manner the use of art therapy with families in calamity. In their case study they established the exercise of art therapy ideology in a family with a narration or whose been exposed to circumstances deemed as child abuse.

The two asserts that art therapy gives better modes communication for the family which influences positive changes. On the other hand, the uses of both play and art therapy approaches can be demonstrated with troubled children and their caregivers.

Boston (2000) portrays the significance of art therapy strategy for tackling the societal and gender disparity as a problem in the cure of mostly women and their families, demonstrating how the application of art is tool for clients who are from the minor cultures. Art therapy as a field of study is more aligned to the significance of neuroscience to art as opposed to the other way round.

In recent times, Hertlein, Lambert-Shute & Benson (2004) gave comprehensive deliberations of family therapy models and the combination of art therapy intercession into these diverse models. Hertlein, Lambert-Shute & Benson (2004) demonstration is diverse and commenced with a hierarchical psychoanalytic viewpoint on the significance of art yield. Consequently, this led to a more postmodern family systems approach where the counselor and the client co-constructed sense. Extra efforts that incorporated art therapy with family therapy were the development of the Kinetic Family Drawing KFD and strategy for assessment of these drawings (Sonkin & Dutton, 2003).

These appraisal courses of action are very precise; for instance, the existence of a lawnmower is linked with antagonism. While a lot of people may see these strategies at probability with present postmodern philosophy that hold several truths, the Kinetic Family Drawing is still practical instrument. Supplementary efforts to incorporate these two ideologies depict the application of art therapy as cure. Hertlein, Lambert-Shute & Benson (2004) illustrate in a clear manner the use of art therapy with families in calamity. In their case study, they established the exercise of art therapy ideology in a family with a narration or whose been exposed to circumstances deemed as child abuse.

The two asserts that art therapy gives better modes communication for the family which influences positive changes. On the other hand, the uses of both play and art therapy approaches can be demonstrated with troubled children and their caregivers.

Boston (2000) portrays the significance of art therapy strategy for tackling the societal and gender disparity as a problem in the cure of mostly women and their families, demonstrating how the application of art is tool for clients who are from the minor cultures. Art therapy, as a field of study, is more aligned to the significance of neuroscience to art as opposed to the other way round.

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Conclusion

There are more than enough neurological writings that depict the use of illustration actions for the intention of neurological assessment and recognition of definite intellect dysfunction. Nevertheless, there are limited or non written materials in the field of neurosciences that illustrate the use of art in healing. Tap & Wright (2005) explain a neurophysiologic strategy to the use of art therapy with teaching physically challenged kids. A case study verified the function of this strategy with a young boy who could not read. Widening the utilization of art from its use through physically challenged populations, Tap & Wright (2005) used illustration as a way to contact the intrinsic increasingly idle sensitive right brain self-healing ability.

Text reflecting a combination of neuroscience and family therapy is comparatively uncommon. This is due to the connection between an individual’s context inside an association structure and the individual’s physiology. Boston (2000) summarized the connection amid point of segregation of personality and apprehension and emphasized the importance of considering better methods in the treatment of physiological disorders. From a related point of view, Tap & Wright (2005) portray the control of point of segregation on levels of nervousness and give thorough images of the physiological procedures and harm that result from constant worry (Tap & Wright, 2005).

References

Boston, P. (2000). Systemic family therapy and the influence of post-modernism. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 6: 450-457. Print.

Hertlein, M. K., Lambert-Shute, J., & Benson, K. (2004). Postmodern Influence in Family Therapy Research: Reflections of Graduate Students. The Qualitative Report, 9: 538-561. Print.

Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2001). Attachment theory and intergroup bias: Evidence that priming the secure base schema attenuates negative reactions to out-groups. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81: 97-115. Print.

Sonkin, D., & Dutton, D. (2003). Treatment assaultive men from an attachment perspective. Intimate Violence: Contemporary Treatment Innovations. New York: Haworth Publishing. Print.

Tap, D. M., & Wright, L.M. (1996). Live supervision and family systems nursing: postmodern influences and dilemmas. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 3: 225-233. Print.

Is narrative therapy a postmodern approach?

What is postmodern approaches to family therapy?

Why is narrative therapy considered a postmodern therapy?

What is postmodern approaches therapy?

What is the main focus of postmodern approach?

What is the difference between modern and postmodern therapy?