Postmodern Therapy

In the 1940′s, the entire landscape of art was changed forever, when Jackson Pollack began releasing his paintings to the public. In 1965, Cormac McCarthy released his debut novel, The Orchard Keeper, with the unknowing result of transforming the world of literature. In 1989, Cesar Pelli’s vision of a new style of architecture was cemented, with the completion of the Wells Fargo Center. What do all these events have in common? Each one of these pieces of art, renegaded the post modern era, within their respective fields. The definition of the postmodern eras, was to “deconstruct” the existing mold. Although it is not a new phenomenon, postmodern therapy, is a unique and stylistic perspective on the field of psychology. This ideology, “deconstructs” the psychological mold, by highlighting “the given” (the things we take for granted) and attempting to establish a proper use for each. The main belief behind postmodern therapy is that it is impossible for any mental health “expert” to do deceiver what is “psychologically healthy”. The practitioners of this practice of therapy, attempt to minimize authority, while forming a communal relationship, between the patient and therapist. There are three separate styles of postmodern therapy; narrative therapy, solution-focused therapy, collaborative language system.

1. Narrative Therapy: This form of postmodern therapy is vested in two principles; “all human thought and behavior exist in cultural contexts that give them particular meaning and significance” and “people’s view of the world is shaped through a complex, generally unconscious process of sifting through experiences”.

2. Solution Focused Therapy: Solution Focused Therapy, encourages the patient to transform his/her problems to solutions. This unconventional method believes that whatever has worked for the patient in the past, will work now.

3. Collaborative Language System: This form of therapy, is closely related to actually therapy in its in office practice. The therapist and the patient attempt to “dissolve” problems and issues through conversations. This laid back approach, allows the patient to feel more comfortable and open up