Treatment Systems in Psychotherapy
Categorisation of Treatment Systems in Psychotherapy
Treatment Systems Focusing on Emotions:
Person Centered Therapy
Existential Therapy
Gestalt Therapy
Narrative Therapy
Constructivist Therapy
Feminist Therapy
Treatment Systems Focusing on Thoughts:
Rational Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive Therapy
Treatment Systems Focusing on Actions:
Behaviour Therapy
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Reality Therapy
Solution-focused Brief Therapy
Family & Couples Therapy
Transpersonal Therapy
Mindfulness based Stress Reduction
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
Schema Therapy
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
Emotion Focused Treatment Systems
Person-Centered Therapy (PCT)
Developed by Carl Rogers in the 1940s & 1950s.
A non-directive approach emphasizing the client’s capacity for self-healing and personal growth.
Focuses on creating a supportive and empathetic environment.
Core Principles:
Self-Actualisation
Humans have an innate tendency towards growth and achieving their potential.
Therapy facilitates the conditions needed for self-actualisation.
Client Autonomy
Clients are viewed as experts in their own lives.
Therapist supports the client in discovering their own solutions, without directing or interpreting.
Non-Directive Approach
Therapist avoids steering the conversation, allowing the client to guide the process.
Fosters independence and self-discovery.
Therapeutic Relationship
The relationship between therapist and client is critical for success.
Key Concepts:
Unconditional Positive Regard
Therapist offers acceptance and support without judgement.
Empathy
Therapist strives to deeply understand the client’s experience.
Congruence (Genuineness)
Therapist is authentic and transparent, fostering trust.
Locus of Evaluation
Therapy aims to shift reliance on external validation to an internal sense of self-worth.
Conditions of Worth
Therapist helps clients overcome societal and relational pressures.
Goals:
Enhancing Self-Understanding
Help clients gain insight into their feelings, thoughts, and behaviours.
Promoting Self-Acceptance
Support clients in embracing their authentic selves.
Encouraging Personal Growth
Empower clients to explore new possibilities.
Improving Emotional Regulation
Foster the ability to understand and manage emotions.
Building Autonomy & Confidence
Encourage clients to trust their inner resources.
Techniques:
Active Listening
Therapist listens attentively and reflects back the client’s thoughts and feelings.
Paraphrasing & Clarification
Restating what the client shares to confirm understanding.
Open-ended Questions
Used sparingly to help the client expand on their thoughts without leading them.
Silence
Allowing space for the client to process their thoughts and emotions.
Mirroring
Reflecting the client’s emotional state to deepen their awareness and insight.
Applications:
Low self-esteem or self-worth issues.
Depression & anxiety.
Relationship difficulties.
Coping with life transitions or crisis.
Personal growth & self-discovery.
Adaptable to clients of diverse cultural & social backgrounds.
Strengths:
Highly respectful of client’s autonomy & individuality.
Builds a strong, trusting therapeutic relationship.
Flexible & adaptable to various client needs & contexts.
Limitations:
May not provide enough structure for clients seeking specific advice or solutions.
Less effective for severe mental health conditions requiring more directive interventions.
Group Activity: Role-Play Triads
Purpose: Practice attending skills in a structured setup.
Counsellor: practices attending skills.
Client: shares a concern scenario.
Observer: provides feedback on the counsellor’s attending skills (ex- posture, eye contact, verbal prompts, etc).
Existential Therapy
A philosophical approach to psychotherapy focusing on the human condition.
Emphasises free will, self-determination, & the search for meaning.
Helps individuals confront fundamental questions of existence (purpose, freedom & morality) rather than diagnosing or treating symptoms.
Rooted in the philosophies of Soren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, & Martin Heidegger.
Core Principles:
Freedom & Responsibility
Humans are free to make choices but with freedom comes responsibility for those choices & their consequences.
Therapy helps clients explore how they exercise their freedom & take responsibility for their lives.
Search for Meaning
People have an inherent desire to find meaning & purpose in life.
Supports clients in discovering or creating meaning, especially during times of crisis.
Authenticity
Encourages clients to live authentically by aligning actions with their values & beliefs.
Awareness of death & finitude
Acknowledging the inevitability of death can lead to a deeper appreciation of life & motivation to live fully.
Isolation
Explores the tension between the need for connection & the reality of existential aloneness.
Anxiety as a natural experience
Arises from confronting life’s uncertainties, freedom & morality. Therapy focuses on helping clients face & harness anxiety constructively.
Goals:
Increase self-awareness
Help clients explore their beliefs, values, & assumptions about life.
Facilitate authentic living
Encourage individuals to live in ways that are true to themselves rather than conforming to societal or external pressures.
Embrace freedom & responsibility
Empower clients to take ownership of their choices & actions.
Find meaning & purpose
Support clients in discovering or constructing meaning in their lives.
Address existential concerns
Help clients face fundamental questions about life, death & isolation without fear or avoidance.
Techniques & strategies:
Exploration of values & beliefs
Encourages clients to examine their core values & how these align with their actions & goals.
Phenomenological Approach
The therapist sets aside personal biases to fully understand the client’s subjective experience.
Meaning making
Help clients identify or create meaning in their lives, particularly during times of loss or transition.
Confronting existential givens
Discuss life’s inherent challenges, such as death, freedom, isolation, & meaninglessness, to foster acceptance & growth.
Paradoxical intention
Clients are encouraged to confront fears by embracing them humorously & intentionally.
Reflection & self-inquiry
Encourage clients to reflect on their choices, goals & actions, to enhance self-awareness & authenticity.
Applications:
Life transitions.
Crisis of meaning.
Grief & loss.
Anxiety & depression rooted in existential concerns.
Identity issues.
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths:
Addresses deep, universal human concerns, making it relatable to a broad audience.
Emphasises personal responsibility & empowerment.
Highly flexible, allowing adaptation to individual needs & cultural contexts.
Limitations:
May not provide sufficient structure for clients seeking immediate solutions or symptom relief.
Abstract nature can be challenging for clients less comfortable with philosophical discussions.
May require integration with other therapeutic approaches in cases of severe conditions.
Group Activity: The Authenticity Check
Purpose: to encourage clients to examine how authentically they are living
Provide prompts such as:
What aspects of your life feels most authentic?
Where do you feel you are holding back or conforming?
What prevents you from living more authentically?
Work with the client to identify small, actionable steps towards greater authenticity
Gestalt Therapy
Developed by Fritz Perls in the 1940s/50s, it is a humanistic & experiential approach that focuses on the present moment & the clients experience in the ‘here & now’.
The term Gestalt derives from a German word meaning ‘whole’ or ‘form’ reflecting the therapy's emphasis on integrating thoughts, feelings & behaviours as a unified whole.
This approach encourages clients to increase awareness of themselves & their surroundings, address unresolved issues, take responsibility for their actions & live more authentically.
Core principles:
Holism
Humans are seen as unified beings where mind, body & emotions are interconnected
Therapy emphasizes addressing the person as a whole rather than focusing on isolated symptoms
Here & now
Emphasis is placed on the present moment, as the past & future are accessed through present experiences
Clients are encouraged to explore how their feelings & behaviours manifest in the current moment
Awareness
Self-awareness is central to change & growth
Clients are guided to notice & understand thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations & actions
Contact & boundary
Healthy relationships involve clear boundaries that allow for meaningful connections with others while maintaining individuality
Therapy explores how clients interact with their environment & manage these boundaries
Responsibility
Clients are encouraged to take ownership of their choices & actions rather than blaming external circumstances
Unfinished business
Unresolved emotions & experiences from the past can impact present behaviour & relationships
Therapy focuses on identifying & addressing this ‘unfinished businesses’.
Goals:
Increase self-awareness
Help clients understand how their behaviours, emotions & thoughts are interconnected
Resolve unfinished business
Encourage clients to process unresolved emotions or conflicts from the past
Enhance personal responsibility
Empower clients to recognise their role in creating & changing their life circumstances
Promote authenticity
Help clients live in alignment with their true feelings & needs
Foster present moment living
Shift focus from dwelling on the past or worrying about the future to fully experiencing the present
Techniques:
Empty chair technique
Clients engage in a dialogue with an imagined person or part of themselves, often represented by an empty chair
This technique helps clients express unresolved feelings & gain new perspectives
Role-playing
Clients act out situations or emotions to better understand their internal conflicts or relationships
Experiments
Spontaneous activities are introduced to explore a client’s thoughts, emotions or behaviours.
Examples – exaggerating a gesture, exploring a thought, or completing a sentence
Body awareness
Clients are encouraged to notice physical sensations & how they relate to emotions or thoughts
This technique helps uncover suppressed feelings or insights
Focus on language
The therapist pays attention to the client’s language patterns, such as avoiding ownership of feelings. (I can’t Vs I won’t) or using should statements
Clients are encouraged to use direct & responsible language
Applications:
Emotional & relational difficulties
Anxiety & depression
Trauma & unresolved grief
Self-esteem & identity issues
Life transitions & existential concerns
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths:
Focuses on the individual’s experience, fostering self awareness & empowerment
Encourages creativity & experiential learning, making it engaging for clients
Effective for clients seeking to resolve deep-seated emotional issues
Limitations:
May feel too intense or controversial for some clients, especially those uncomfortable with emotional expression
Less structured than other approaches, which may not appeal to all clients
Effectiveness relies heavily on the therapist’s skill in creating a safe & supportive environment
Group Activity: Unfinished Business exercise
Purpose: address unresolved emotional experiences
Ask the client to recall a past situation or relationship that feels unresolved
Explore what they wish they could have said or done at the moment
Encourage the client to express those feelings as if they were addressing the person or situation now
Outcome: releases suppressed emotions & fosters closure
Narrative Therapy
Focuses on the stories we tell about our lives & how those stories shape our identity, behaviour & experiences.
Developed in the 1980s by Michael White & David Epston, & is based on the idea that people view their lives through the narratives they create.
Emphasises that we are not defined solely by our problems or past experiences, but rather by the way we interpret & give meaning to them.
Core principles:
The problem is the problem
Separates people from the problem, emphasizing that a person is not the problem but the problem is the problem.
This externalization helps people see their issues from a new perspective & reduce blame or shame
Stories shape identity
People make sense of their lives through the stories they tell about themselves
These narratives influence their beliefs, behaviours, & sense of identity.
Therapy focuses on exploring & reshaping these stories to empower the individual
Multiple perspectives
Narratives are constructed based on the individual’s experience & the meanings they attribute to those experiences.
Encourages clients to consider alternative perspectives & possibilities for their stories
Strength & resilience
By identifying & amplifying the moments when they have overcome challenges or acted against the problem (called unique outcomes) , clients can develop a sense of agency & resilience
Cultural context
Recognises that social, cultural & systemic influence shape people’s stories.
It often challenges dominant cultural narratives that might contribute to the individual’s struggles.
Goals:
Externalising problems
Goal – help clients to see they are not their problems by separating their identity from the issues they have. This reduces self-blame & creates space for change
Example – a client might say, ‘I am not this depression, depression is something that is affecting me’, which helps them view the problem more objectively
Re-authoring life-stories
Goal – enable clients to rewrite their narratives, focusing on strengths, values & preferred identities
Example- a client who views themselves as a failure might reframe their story to emphasise perseverance & success despite challenges
Identifying unique outcomes
Goal – highlight moments when clients successfully resisted or overcame their problems demonstrating their ability to take control
Example – Someone struggling with anxiety recalling a time they spoke in public
Empowering agency & autonomy
Goal – help clients recognise their role as active participants in shaping their lives & future stories.
Example – a client may gain confidence by making decisions that align with their values rather than feeling dictated by external pressures
Challenging dominant cultural narratives
Goal – address social, cultural, systemic narratives that contribute to the client’s struggles
Example – a client who feels inadequate to societal beauty standards might redefine their idea of self-worth based on qualities unrelated to appearance
Improving relationships
Goal – facilitate healthier interactions by examining the influence of problem saturated narratives on relationships creating space for more positive dynamics
Example – a family might reframe a child’s behaviour from defiance to expressing unmet needs leading to more empathetic communication
Techniques:
Externalisation
The therapist helps client separate themselves from their problems by personifying it
This makes the problem more manageable & less overwhelming
Mapping the influence
Explore how the problem influences the clint’s life & relationships & vice versa
Re-authoring
Creating alternative stories that emphasises the client’s strengths & values
Deconstructing dominant narratives
Analysing & challenging societal or cultural stories that may perpetuate the problem
Applications:
Effective for individual, group, couples & family therapy settings dealing with issues such as,
Trauma
Anxiety & depression
Relationship issues
Identity & self-esteem struggles
Cultural & societal oppression
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths:
Encourages empowerment & agency
Focus on strength & resilience
Non-pathologizing approach – avoids labelling with diagnosis / viewing them as broken
Culturally sensitive
Flexibility
Collaborative nature
Encourages long term change
Limitations:
Requires high client engagement
Limited empirical evidence
Time sensitive process
Potential over emphasis on narrative
Not universally applicable
Limited focus on immediate problems
Activity:
How would you combine narrative therapy with creative therapy? Give examples
Constructivist Therapy
Emphasises the ways people create meaning & construct their reality through personal experiences, beliefs, & interpretations
Focuses on helping individuals revise unhelpful or limiting mental constructs to promote wellbeing & growth
Core principles:
Reality is subjective
Each person perceives & interprets the world uniquely, based on their experiences, beliefs & cultural background
Therapy focuses on understanding & reshaping these interpretations rather than seeking a single objective truth
Meaning making
People are seen as active participants in constructing the meaning of their experiences
Aims to help clients explore & transform unhelpful meanings into more adaptive ones
Focus on the present & future
While past experiences shape current perceptions, emphasizes how these perceptions influence present & future behaviours
Goal is to help clients create empowering narrative for their future
Collaboration
Therapist & client works together to explore and co construct new meanings & possibilities
The therapeutic relationship is non-hierarchical & emphasises mutual respect
Cultural sensitivity
Acknowledges the influence of cultural & societal factors on a person’s construction of reality
Key techniques:
Exploring core beliefs & assumptions
Therapist helps client identify & examine underlying beliefs that shape their perceptions & behaviours
Reconstructing narratives
Clients are encouraged to revise or rewrite their personal stories to reflect resilience, agency & possibility
Imagery & visualisation
Techniques like guided imagery helps clients envision desired outcomes or alternative perspectives
Role playing
Clients practice adopting new perspectives or behaviours in a safe environment
Scaling questions
Used to explore progress & possibilities by asking clients to rate their feelings or experiences on a scale
Therapeutic dialogue
Open-ended, exploratory conversations help clients deepen self-awareness & consider new perspectives
Applications:
Anxiety & depression
Trauma & grief
Relationship conflicts
Identity & existential issues
Adjustment to life transitions
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths:
Client-centered
Empowering
Flexible
Focus on growth
Limitations:
Abstract concepts may be difficult to grasp for some
Time sensitive
Constructivist Therapy Vs Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy emphasizes externalizing problems & reshaping life stories, whereas CT is broader, focusing on the overall mental framework clients use to interpret their worlds
Activity:
Reframing core beliefs: How would you use CT to help clients reframe their core beliefs
Feminist Therapy
Rooted in principles of feminism, social justice, & empowerment.
Recognises the influence of gender, culture, power & oppression on mental health & seeks to create an egalitarian relationship between therapist & client
Applies to individuals of all genders & focuses on dismantling oppressive symptoms
Core principles:
The person is political
Client’s struggles are seen in the context of systematic & societal factors such as sexism, racism, classism, ableism, heteronormativity
Therapy involves raising awareness of these influences & advocating for change
Empowerment
Therapy aims to empower clients by recognizing their strengths, validating their experiences, & fostering self-advocacy
Egalitarian relationships
Therapist & clients are collaborators in the therapeutic process. The therapist avoids positioning themselves as the expert & instead emphasises mutual respect & shared decision making
Gender & power analysis
Clients are encouraged to explore how societal power structures, gender roles, & stereotypes impact their self-concept, relationships & mental health
Cultural competence & intersectionality
Considers the client’s intersecting identities (race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status etc) & their unique experiences of privilege or oppression
Focus on strength or resilience
Therapy highlights client’s strengths & capacity to resist & overcome societal pressure & challenges
Advocacy for social change
Extends beyond individual work to include community & social advocacy aiming to dismantle oppressive systems & promote equality
Goals:
Empowerment & autonomy
Awareness of oppression
Deconstructing gender roles
Fostering healthy relationships
Encouraging activism
Techniques:
Gender role analysis
Explore how traditional gender roles influence the client’s thoughts, behaviours & relationships
Example – a client may reflect on how societal expectations of women as caregivers affect their career choices
Power analysis
Examine how power dynamics (in relationships, workplace, or society) impact the client’s mental health & well being
Reframing & relabeling
Help clients interpret negative or disempowering labels imposed by society
Example – aggressive behaviour might be reframed as assertiveness
Assertiveness training
Teach clients to express their needs, set boundaries, & advocate for themselves effectively & respectfully
Exploring intersectionality
Facilitate discussion about how multiple forms of identity & oppression intersect in a client's life ( being a female CEO or a queer man )
Empowerment strategies
Encourage clients to build self-esteem, develop self efficacy & take control of their lives
Example – encouraging a client to challenge a workplace policy they find discriminatory
Advocacy & community engagement
Support clients in engaging with social justice work or joining supportive communities to amplify their voices
Strengths & limitations:
Strengths:
Focus on social justice
Cultural sensitivity
Empowering
Egalitarian approach
Addresses root causes
Limitations:
Abstract concepts
Potential for therapist bias
Limited empirical evidence
Not always focused on immediate symptom relief
Requires therapist awareness
Example exercise: identifying & challenging internalized oppression
Objective: help clients recognise how societal messages & norms influence their self perception & replace these with empowering beliefs
Step 1 – identify internalized messages
Prompt – ‘what messages have you received from society about your role, worth or abilities based on your gender, race or other identities’?
Step 2 – Examine the impact
Prompt – ‘how do these messages effect the way you see yourself, your relationships, or your goals’?
Step 3 – challenge the messages
Prompt – ‘what evidence exists to contradict these messages? What would you say to a friend who believed these things about themselves’?
Step 4 – create new beliefs
Prompt – ‘what beliefs do you want to hold about yourself? How can you act in ways that support these new beliefs?
Step 5 – reinforce through action
Encourage the client to take actions that align with their new beliefs, such as speaking up in a meeting or setting a boundary in a relationship
Types of Therapy
Therapy for Feelings:
Person-Centered Therapy
Existential Therapy
Gestalt Therapy
Narrative Therapy
Constructivist Therapy
Feminist Therapy
Therapy for Thoughts:
Rational Behavior Therapy
Cognitive Therapy
Therapy for Actions:
Behavior Therapy
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Reality Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Family & Couples Therapy
Transpersonal Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Schema Therapy
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
Therapy Focused on Feelings
Person-Centered Therapy (PCT)
Made by Carl Rogers in the 1940s and 1950s.
Helps you grow and heal yourself.
Gives you a safe and caring space.
Main Ideas:
Growing Yourself
You want to be the best you can be.
Therapy helps you get there.
You're in Charge
You know your life best.
The therapist helps you find your own answers.
No Bossing Around
The therapist doesn't tell you what to do.
You learn to be yourself.
Good Friendship
The therapist and you need to get along.
Important Terms:
Always Caring
The therapist likes you no matter what.
Feeling Each Other's Feelings
The therapist tries to understand what you're going through.
Being Real
The therapist is honest with you.
Believing in Yourself
Therapy helps you start to believe in yourself instead of needing others to tell you you're good.
What Others Want
The therapist helps you stop doing things just to make others happy.
Goals:
Know Yourself Better
Understand your feelings and actions.
Like Yourself
Accept who you are.
Get Better
Try new things and grow.
Control Your Feelings
Understand and handle your feelings.
Be Yourself
Trust yourself and be confident.
How It's Done:
Listen Carefully
The therapist listens and tells you what they heard.
Saying It Back
The therapist repeats what you say to make sure they get it.
Ask Questions
The therapist asks questions to help you think.
Quiet Time
Sometimes you just need to think.
Copying Feelings
The therapist shows you how you feel to help you understand.
When to Use:
Feeling bad about yourself.
Sad or nervous.
Problems with friends or family.
Big changes in life.
Wanting to be a better person.
Works for people from all over.
Good Points:
Respects you and your ideas.
Makes a good friendship between you and the therapist.
Works for different people and problems.
Bad Points:
Doesn't give advice.
Not good for very bad mental health problems.
Group Activity: Pretend Play
Learn how to listen to others. -How to do it:
Divide into groups of 3
Person A: Listener learner
Person B: Shares a problem
Person C: Gives advice based on listening/understanding skills
Existential Therapy
A therapy that asks big questions about life.
It looks at your freedom, choices, and what makes you happy.
It helps you face questions about why you're here and what's right or wrong.
Based on the ideas of some famous thinkers.
Main Ideas:
Freedom and Doing What's Right
You can choose what to do, but you have to be responsible for what happens.
Therapy helps you see how free you are and take 책임.
Looking for Meaning
You want to find something that makes your life worth living.
Therapy helps you find it, especially when things are hard.
Being Yourself
It's important to live how you really feel, not how others want you to.
Thinking About Death
Knowing that life ends can make you appreciate it more.
Feeling Alone
Everyone feels alone sometimes, even when they're with others.
Feeling Worried
It's normal to worry about life. Therapy helps you deal with it.
Goals:
Know Yourself
Understand what you believe and what's important to you.
Live Honestly
Be yourself instead of trying to be someone else.
Be Free and Responsible
Take charge of your life.
Find Your Purpose
Discover what makes you happy.
Face Big Questions
Don't be afraid to think about life and death.
How It's Done:
Talk About What's Important
Think about what you care about and how it affects your life.
Understand You
The therapist tries to see the world as you do.
Find Meaning
Look for what makes your life meaningful.
Face Your Fears
Talk about the hard things in life to get used to them.
Do What Scares You
Try to face your fears with humor.
Think About Yourself
Ask yourself questions about your life.
When to Use:
Big changes in life.
Feeling lost.
Sadness and loss.
Feeling worried about life.
Not knowing who you are.
Good and Bad Points
Good Points:
Talks about things everyone cares about.
Helps you take charge of your life.
Works for everyone.
Bad Points:
Doesn't give quick answers.
Can be hard to understand.
Might need other therapies for serious problems.
Group Activity: Are You Real?
Think about how real you're being in your life.
Ask yourself:
What parts of my life feel most real?
Where am I not being myself?
What stops me from being real?
What small steps can I take to be more real?
Gestalt Therapy
Made by Fritz Perls in the 1940s and 1950s. It helps you focus on what's happening right now.
Gestalt means 'whole' in German. This therapy helps you put together your thoughts, feelings, and actions.
It helps you know yourself better, fix old problems, and be more honest.
Main Ideas:
The Whole Person
Your mind, body, and feelings are all connected.
Therapy looks at everything about you.
Right Now
Focus on what you're feeling at this moment.
Talk about how you feel and act now.
Knowing Yourself
It's important to understand your thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Connecting with Others
Have good limits so you can connect with people but still be yourself.
Therapy looks at how you connect with the world.
Being Responsible
It's up to you to choose what to do and be responsible for it.
Old Problems
Old feelings can cause problems now.
Therapy helps you fix these old issues.
Goals:
Understand Yourself
See how your actions, feelings, and thoughts connect.
Fix Old Problems
Let go of old feelings.
Be Responsible
Know that you can change your life.
Be Honest
Live how you truly feel.
Live in the Moment
Don't worry about the past or future, just focus on now.
How It's Done:
Empty Chair
Talk to an empty chair as if someone or some part of yourself is sitting there.
This helps you say what you need to say and see things differently.
Act It Out
Act out feelings or situations to understand them better.
Try New Things
Do things that help you explore your thoughts and feelings.
For example, move in a different way or finish a sentence.
Know Your Body
Pay attention to how your body feels and how it connects to your feelings.
This can help you find hidden feelings.
Pay Attention to How You Talk
The therapist listens to how you talk, like if you say 'I can't' instead of 'I won't.'
Try to use words that show you're in charge.
When to Use:
Problems with feelings or friends.
Feeling worried or sad.
Bad experiences or loss.
Not liking yourself.
Big questions about life.
Good and Bad Points
Good Points:
Helps you understand yourself.
Lets you be creative.
Fixes deep emotional problems.
Bad Points:
Can be too strong for some people.
Not as organized as other therapies.
Needs a good therapist.
Group Activity: Fix Old Problems
Talk about an old problem.
Ask yourself:
What past scenario feels unresolved?
What do I wish I could have said/done in that moment?
How can I release those emotions now?
Narrative Therapy
Focuses on the stories you tell about your life and how they affect you.
It believes that you're not just your problems, but how you see them.
Main Ideas:
The Problem Is the Problem
You are not the problem, the problem is the problem.
This helps you see things differently.
Stories Make You Who You Are
The stories you tell yourself affect your life.
Therapy helps you change these stories.
Different Ways to See Things
There are many ways to see your life.
Try to find new ways to tell your story.
Your Strengths
Find times when you did well and use those moments to feel stronger.
Culture Matters
Your culture affects your stories.
Therapy helps you challenge bad cultural messages.
Goals:
Separate Yourself from the Problem
See that you are not your problems.
For example, say 'I have depression' instead of 'I am depressed.'
Rewrite Your Story
Focus on your good qualities.
For example, if you think you're a failure, remember times you did well.
Find Unique Outcomes
Find times when you beat your problems.
For example, remember a time you spoke in public even though you have anxiety.
Take Charge of Your Life
Make decisions that are right for you.
Challenge Cultural Messages
Change bad cultural messages that affect you.
For example, change how you see beauty if you feel ugly.
Improve Relationships
Change bad stories in your relationships to make them better.
How It's Done:
Separate from the Problem
Make the problem a separate thing.
This makes it easier to deal with.
Map the Effect
See how the problem affects your life.
Rewrite the Story
Tell a new story that focuses on your good qualities.
Take Apart Bad Stories
Challenge bad cultural stories.
When to Use:
Works for individuals, families, and couples.
Use for things like:
Bad experiences.
Feeling worried or sad.
Problems with friends or family.
Not liking yourself.
Feeling oppressed.
Good and Bad Points
Good Points:
Makes you feel strong.
Focuses on your good qualities.
Doesn't blame you.
Works for different cultures.
Flexible.
Encourages change.
Bad Points:
Needs you to be involved.
Not a lot of proof it works.
Takes time.
Can focus too much on stories.
Doesn't work for everyone.
Doesn't focus on quick solutions.
Activity:
Try combining narrative therapy with art therapy.
Constructivist Therapy
Helps you change how you see the world.
Focuses on changing bad thoughts to feel better.
Main Ideas:
Everyone Sees Things Differently
How you see the world depends on your life.
Therapy helps you change how you see things.
Making Meaning
You make your own meaning in life.
Therapy helps you change bad meanings into good ones.
Focus on Now and the Future
Your past affects you, but you can change your future.
Therapy helps you make a good future.
Work Together
You and the therapist work together.
The therapist respects you.
Culture Is Important
Your culture affects how you see the world.
Key techniques:
Look at Your Beliefs
Find the beliefs that affect you.
Rewrite Stories
Change your personal stories to show you're strong.
Use Pictures
Imagine good outcomes or different ways to see things.
Act It Out
Practice new ways to act in a safe place.
Ask Questions
Rate your feelings to see how you're doing.
Talk It Out
Talk about your feelings and think about new ideas.
When to Use:
Feeling worried or sad.
Bad experiences or loss.
Problems with friends or family.
Questions about who you are.
Big changes in life.
Good and Bad Points
Good Points:
Focuses on you.
Makes you strong.
Flexible.
Focuses on growth.
Bad Points:
Can be hard to understand.
Takes time.
Constructivist Therapy Vs Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy focuses on changing life stories, while constructivist therapy is broader.
Activity:
Change your core beliefs.
Feminist Therapy
Based on fairness and respect.
Understands how society affects your mental health.
Works for everyone and fights against unfair treatment.
Main Ideas:
Personal Is Political
Your problems are related to society.
Therapy makes you aware of these issues and helps you fight for change.
Be Strong
Therapy helps you see your strengths and speak up for yourself.
Everyone Is Equal
The therapist and you work together as equals.
Understand Gender and Power
Therapy helps you see how gender roles and power affect you.
Culture Matters
Therapy considers your race, sexuality, and how they affect you.
Focus on Strength
Therapy helps you see how you can overcome challenges.
Fight for Change
Therapy goes beyond you and fights for equality.
Goals:
Be Strong and Independent
Know How Society Hurts You
Change Gender Roles
Have Good Relationships
Fight for What's Right
Techniques:
Understand Gender Roles
See how gender roles affect you.
For example, think about how women are expected to be caregivers.
Understand Power
See how power affects your mental health.
Change Labels
Change bad labels that society gives you.
For example, see aggressive behaviour as assertiveness.
Learn to Speak Up
Learn to express your needs.
Understand Intersectionality
Talk about how your identities affect