If you go to a psychologist or have ever considered going, it is very likely that you have searched for the types of therapies that exist to choose that specialty that you think will best suit you and the solution to your problem. And it is also very likely that you have come across the approaches most used by psychologists, such as behaviorism, psychoanalysis or humanism, but did you know that there are more approaches than the traditional ones? They are known as postmodern approaches or therapies and are based on a more social position in the life of the patient, rather than seeing him as a receptacle of internal disorders or conflicts.
In this article we tell you what these postmodern therapies are, what their psychological benefits are and why they are perfect for current patients. If you want to improve your mental health, these alternatives are a great option!
What is postmodern psychotherapy about?
- Psychological therapy becomes a kind of collaborative association, where we base ourselves on the information gathered from the patient’s experiences, perceptions of the world, and relationships, and a dialogue or conservatory is created to discuss the origins of the problem and its resolution. In a way, the therapist and the patient are on a par, because the latter becomes an active member.
- We do not work on the patient, but we work with the patient. Thus, the person finds confidence in his own ability to describe himself, through his wishes and opinions, leading him to become aware and find his own solutions from him. After finding the meanings of his perception towards the world, how they fit or mismatch with his life and the way he can redirect it for his benefit.
The power of speech in postmodern therapies
The very essence of postmodern therapies is dialogue. The theorists of this approach, such as Foucalt, Rogers or Epson, firmly believed that, through conversations, patients could give meaning to their reality and transform it. After all, the best way to get all the internal conflicts out is to take it outside, since that is where we develop.
That is why the person’s profile is not only his thoughts, but his relationship with his environment, his beliefs and his cultural influence, since we are all inherent to them. Each person has their own reality, their own voice in the world and the work in therapy is to make it heard and projected.
Benefits of postmodern therapies
- It is more open, in the sense that the patient is part of the therapeutic process instead of waiting for the psychologist to solve everything from his experience.
- The person can find a new lifestyle and gain confidence in their role in society, not just limited to resolving internal conflicts.
- As it is a more dynamic environment, the client is more relaxed and less anxious, which makes the psychological intervention develop better.
- Similarly, the role of the psychologist changes completely from being an inquisitive authority to becoming a partner to the patient with whom they can work.
- It is an ideal therapy for people who have had difficult experiences with traditional approaches, but want to continue with therapeutic work.
What are the postmodern therapeutic approaches?
Narrative Therapy
We can say that it is the most rooted in the essence of the postmodern approach, since it is based on the client’s narrative or discourse to guide the course of therapy. The patient’s history, descriptions, associations, representations and literary resources are also used as an intervention method.
Patient Centered Therapy
In this approach, the psychologist is detached in some way from his role as an expert (in the sense that he is no longer considered as someone who knows everything about human problems) and leads the client to become aware of his own ability to self-resolution to their conflicts, which will help them in the future.
Collaborative Therapy
It is the best expression of the role of partner that the psychologist performs with the client. The intervention becomes a space for dialogue where the client’s concepts of society are analysed, questioned and transformed (refer to their development environment).
Constructionist Therapy
This therapy is born from the constructionist theory of learning, where students have the possibility of building their own knowledge. In psychotherapy, personal experiences are linked to the social reality of each person and, therefore, they can give meanings and build their solutions, but above all build themselves as individuals following these principles.
Constructivist Therapy
It is based on strengthening the patient and making him capable of facing the world with his own resources, finding and refining his own competencies, making him aware that what distinguishes him is his strong point in society. It is not about putting problems aside, but about changing his perception of them, transforming them into challenges from which learning to improve is obtained.