The Post-Modern Conception of Psychotherapy

During the last decade, the postmodern movement has exerted a significant impact on the development of social and behavioral sciences by shattering the traditional beliefs about the nature of reality, objectivity and the self. The conception of the self as a fluid and dynamic being that is redefined by social and cultural contexts has also challenged the notions of the individual, the definition of psychopathology and the treatment methods in traditional psychotherapy (Lyddon & Schreiner, 2000). In accordance with the essentialist perspective, traditional psychotherapy upholds the belief that pre-established standards of behavior or norms exist in society. Thus, those who deviate from the predetermined "norm" in their psyche and their relationships with others are considered to be suffering from mental disorders. Traditional psychotherapy thus revolves around the treatment of the dysfunctions of the individuals so as to help them blend into mainstream society (McNamee, 1996).

The purpose of this paper is to explore how the tenets of postmodernism have shifted psychotherapy into a new paradigm and the implications of this development. Furthermore, the effects of the postmodernist perspective of psychotherapy on current therapeutic approaches used for treatment of clients in contemporary society will also be discussed.

Themes of Postmodernism and Impact on Psychotherapy

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psychotherapy is thus the celebration of diversity. Therapists who strive to provide relevant and effective treatments need to be able to understand their clients' realities in an increasingly complex society characterized by increasing social and cultural differences, as well as the mixtures that blur such boundaries (Linares, 2001). Finally, the postmodern movement has contributed to the development of new therapeutic techniques that have proven to be highly effective in improving the quality of the therapeutic dialogues. One of the techniques is circular questioning in which different individuals not only present their perspectives of the situation, but also provide feedback on the perspectives of one another. This technique heightens the awareness of individuals' relationships to one another and the need to acknowledge different perspectives of the same events (Linares, 2001). The technique of externalization has also been instrumental in helping clients adopt an alternative perspective of their problem and situation. Traditionally, therapists who view psychological problems as residing primarily within individuals encourage patients to internalize their difficulties. However, with the technique of externalization,
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Approximate Word count = 2357
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)

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