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Postmodern TherapyA Postmodern Basis for Narrative Realism The problems of modern philosophical therapy can be difficult for therapists when presented such grueling questions from patients in regards to the “meaning of life” and wanting to know why they are not happy. Sometimes these questions are difficult to answer, and at times the therapist may wonder if they should even attempt to answer it if the question relates to issues with the client in the home environment. They are often called upon to answer questions as they relate to a religious issue, and it’s difficult sometimes to know where to draw the line, when to step aside and allow the client to solve the problem for himself or herself. Perhaps it seems more appropriate for philosophers to counsel clients who raise questions of an ethical nature, but why would it seem more relevant or a philosopher to answer questions of an ethical nature than those reflecting a crisis in personal growth or self awakening? Is there a way to be sure that the two problems are not related? After all, it appears highly possible that the client is working through a postmodern crisis in the process of constructing a new personal identity. If this is the case, it stands to reason that this would affect his relationship to an ethics problem. How does the philosophical counselor handle this kind of a problem? There should be a systematic approach based on a generalized understanding of problems of this type, but there isn’t. It’s difficult for a philosophical counselor to know when to make the connection between a solely ethical issue and a personal growth issue that may result in problems dealing with an ethical issue. On the other hand, what if you client is a psychotherapist who wants your philosophical counsel as it regards the theoretical basis of her methods. She may wish to critique the philosophical views and principles that her shaping her work in psychotherapy. These issues make it difficult for the philosophical counselor to truthfully and ethically determine, so he or she has to make the best informed judgment possible when deciding if this is an issue within the focus of her expertise and not something that needs referred to a psychotherapist or family counselor. Consider for a moment why it seems more legitimate for the philosopher to counselor the counselors than the counselees. Two points immediately come to mind: In our mindset, we are more accepting of the relation between philosophical theory and psychological practice Because of our cultural conditioning, we are taught to insist on the expertise of a clinical therapist in situations involving personal life, histories, and fundamental projects. It also appears that we tend to assume therapists will exercise more discretion than the counselees when it relates to reflecting or being swayed by a philosopher’s counsel. This mind-set, however, needs to be reevaluated in consideration of the emergence of a new breed of clinical and family therapists. These therapists operate from a post-modern philosophical assumption, and therefore comprise the postmodern narrative therapy movement in psychology. Philosophical Premises Underwriting the Postmodern Narrative Movement in Psychotherapy In postmodern narrative therapy, focus tends to be on the descriptions and explanations offered by counselees within the course of their dialogue with therapists. The counselee’s problem is construed of events, problems, or assumptions that are reflected in the story of their life. The theory behind narrative therapists is that there is a value that is achieved in helping the counselee’s spot the mediating affect of narrative construal as the underwriting basis of personal life narratives. The major goal of postmodern narrative therapies is to assist counselees in reconstructing their life-narratives. The intentional content reflected in the counselee’s focus is the principal target of reconstruction. Attention will be directed to the narrative basis of the counselee’s problematic realities upon effective reconstruction. Since possibilities are individualized, intentional content cannot be generalized or specified in advance as a treatment goal. Assisting the counselee in reconstructing his problematic reality into a domain of newfound opportunities is the principal objective of this kind of counseling. This is done through a process of reconstructing the problematic meaning harbored in the intentional content. Keep in mind that the intentional content of itself is reflective of the counselee’s problematic experiences. There is no set process that is followed; the approach is individualized to the needs of each counselee. These needs are revealed within the dialogical construction of the counselee’s life narrative, which is taken to be a concrete expression of the counselee’s problem areas. |
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