Defining or Redefining Normal Research Paper

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Human behavior can be a very fickle and complex thing. Just as human behavior is a rather complex and variable thing, solution-focused therapy variations are much the same way. Indeed, there different viewpoints and methods like postmodernism, general systems, biopsychological, spiritual/ecological and the very important contributions of people like Bronfenbrenner. Regardless of the influence or the method, the overall focus of any solution-focused therapy is to find solutions and better outcomes. The major thing that varies is the precise pathway and method that is used to get to that end. Indeed, the patterns and facets of a given method will vary based on the ideology and logic that underpins it. While there are multiple ways and methods that can all accomplish good things for a therapy patient, it is important to know the desired endgame and find a way to move towards the same.

Analysis

When it comes to postmodernism, the important thing to remember about the subject and the method is that knowing and understanding is subjective and interpretive. As one might expect, therapy that is based on postmodernism draws upon this approach and paradigm. One manifestation of this understanding and pathway is the use of narrative therapy. There is an emphasis placed on the client's subjective experience, how they interpret it and how they process it. There are some that suggest that this subjectivity can lead to skewed perspectives and equally skewed outcomes. Even so, there has been some promise seen in this approach (Phipps & Vorster, 2015). By contrast, general systems-based therapy and counseling has its own list of assumptions. Rather than the patient and their narrative or perception being the focus, the therapist is the most important person in any therapy that is underpinned by general systems theory. Further, a person is multi-system in nature and the emotional-cognitive process is one of the systems within every person. There is also focus on boundaries and the associated systems involved. As for the therapy itself, it focuses on "thinking systems" and content thinking. Whereas postmodernism is subjective and fairly simple, general systems theory-based therapy is much more complex and can involve groups of people rather than one single patient (Whitner, 1985).

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When it comes to biopsychological perspectives vis-a-vis therapy and mental health, thre is a tacit admission that complexity is the name of the game if the disorder in question is itself complex and multilayered. One great example of a disorder that is very intricate in its manifestations and, by extension, the treatments that would be necessary, is post-traumatic stress disorder. There are many that suggest that there has to be an approach to therapy that takes biological, psychological and psychosocial interventions into account as doing only one or two of the three does not fully address or identify the real problems as they truly exist. As other methods typify and make clear, keeping things simple and basic has its upsides. However, there are some disorders and life situations that do not allow for such simplicity and thus a more robust and comprehensive approach is needed. The salient point to find here is that the solution-based method of therapy and counseling needs to be scaled properly to address the catalytic events and patterns that led to the dysfunction (if any exists) and this will inform how wide a net to cast when it comes to the method used to treat the patient (Shalev, 1993).

Another therapeutic method and ideology that thrives on simplicity would be the spiritual/ecological method. Indeed, many manifestations of this method give a heavy focus to what are known as spiritual ecomaps. Indeed, the spirituality of a marriage or family can indeed be used as a tool and an asset for helping everyone involved. Further, they can be used by families with diverse spiritual traditions. This is perhaps something that would be hard to pull off with, for example, postmodernism where everyone's perspective is going to be subjective, different and perhaps very conflicting. Indeed, there are instances where reality has to be called what it is and then everyone in the therapeutic situation can go from there. The usefulness of an ecomap can be compared to a genogram, which shows simple family links in terms of relationship and blood. An ecomap is like that but better in that it shows the relevant ecological relationships and spiritual mindsets in space and….....

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