Social Construction and Therapy

¶ … Shifting the Meanings and Beliefs of Clients Collaborative practice is variously and commonly referred to as conversational practice, social construction, postmodern, or dialogical, practice. It has evolved from assumptions in the wider postmodern movement in human and social sciences. It has also derived its elements from dialogue and social construction theories. Collaborative relations refer to the manner in which we orient ourselves; act, respond and be with another human so as to have them join in a therapeutic engagement that is shared and joint action (Shotter, 1984).

This is also referred to as shared inquiry. In an earlier proposition, Shotter (1984) stated that all humans only exist in joint action; in meeting and interactive discourses with others in mutual fashion. He has lately opted to use ''relationally responsive'' notion (Shotter 2008). He implies that we are naturally relational beings with mutual influence on each other. Thus, the self cannot be split from the systems of relations which define us (Anderson, 2009). When humans have sufficient space for dialogic conversations and collaborative relationships, they talk among themselves in a fresh way.

The conversations evolve and stir up differences that can be expressed in a myriad of ways including freeing self-identity, increased self agency, a variety of ways to understand the self, their events of life, and important people in their lives. New ways to counter challenges are also on that list (Anderson, 2009). The therapy process is, basically, a therapeutic conversation. The client and therapist are involved in a mutual puzzle and a search for the understanding of the issue at hand and the befitting solution as is defined by the client.

The process has been described as a shared meaning from interactive endeavor (2007a). We engage with a client regarding their concerns. We explore their views and develop a togetherness perception between us in the process that points to new meaning, a new narrative and a new agency. Conversational questions form a core part of therapeutic conversation. These types of questions emerge from a position of unknowing to a desire to know more of what has been spoken (Anderson, 2009).

The unknowing stance presented by the therapist is a rich platform for mutual puzzle activity or a common therapist-client exploration of how the client came up with their set of beliefs and how such beliefs add to their view of the problems. It also seeks to establish whether such beliefs are useful in the effort to diminish the presented problem (Gehart, 2014). The chance to query clients helps clients to shift the preconceived meanings they came to therapy with.

It was found in the video that the client had gone for what she believed were the best options for family and her. Her view of herself changed. Video example: The therapist changes her fear beliefs and asks the client, '' do you think you've done anything wrong or has anyone directed you to consciously confront your wrongs?'' and the client responds with a "no." How Restructuring Client Interactions, or Directing the Client to Alter Behaviour Works Both the therapist and the client employ new ways to assess situations.

Such a perception change leads to behavior change in the client. Both inner and outer talk is put to use to stir the client to their emotions and behaviour. Collaborative therapy does not focus on client behaviour change, or even redirecting the clients toward behavior change from the onset. Such change potential is inherent in the inner and outer verbal exchanges of the individual that examine their world views (Gehart, 2014). The client is invited into a mutual shared inquiry of the concerns held by the client.

The inquiry starts with the therapist seeking entry into the story as a learner of what transpires in the client's life while the client turns out more of a teacher in the engagement. The therapist learns and turns the conversation in such forms that the client begins to view their own experiences from a fresh and unfamiliar perspective. Such discovery stimulates the client to enquire and anticipate. They rely on the client's capacity for self-agency, for the creation of optional alternative solutions to its dilemma (Anderson, 1992).

The role of the therapist is to initiate an opportunity for space for change and not to actively determine the occurrence of such change. The therapist does not delve in specifying specific behavior facets, patterns for interaction, of dysfunctional family conduct. The therapist is only an expert in facilitating an open space for conversation that leads to new lines of the client's system of meaning emerging. He stirs up changing views and behavior patterns. A shift in one area of a system can influence similar change in another.

Change, here, means expanding, altering, or even loosening ideas and behavior via conversation. According to Anderson (1997) the therapist's role does not incorporate the following: a blank screen (tabula rasa), referee or negotiator, or an intervener of any kind. The therapist is multi-partial; being on each one's side. They are sufficiently supportive but they do not share in any of the party's consensual truths. It only entails assisting a client to speak what they need to speak out.

It is also referred to as defensive listening; which involves knowing what the other person is inclined to say and correct it where need be. This approach is based on the premise that it is impossible to completely understand another human being. The best we can do is to analyze and understand what they tell us. Collaborative therapists make active attempts to avoid giving instruction. The process in collaborative therapy involves a series of questions in a deep attempt to unearth meaning together (Anderson, 2007b). Dr.

Anderson made use of the dialogue she had with Anita to stick within her rhythm and timings and asked her about Lindsay; Anita's daughter. When Anita pointed out that she abhorred the prospect of turning out a failed mother, the therapist enquired what Anita thought she had done wrongly in her mothering role. This effectively shifted focus from the daughter and her behavior to Anita's feelings. Anita reported that her son lived with her ex. Dr. Anderson sought to find out how Anita related with her son when he left.

She stated that she was depressed by the events but got over it later. She pointed out that they related well. Anita also realized that she would fare well if her daughter moved to live with her father. The therapist majored on the client's feelings and not her role as a mother. A more democratic language as opposed to a hierarchical one; and engaging in conversation in an open down-to earth manner encourages a client to engage more and delve deeper in conversation. Dr.

listened to Anita and helped her, through narrative, to shift from blaming herself and the complications in her relationship with her daughter to goals and values. For instance, the client changed her behavior towards the daughter and shifted the view of herself from a bad mother to a good one; based on the fact that she was positively complimented by other parents with regard to her mothering role and how Lindsay behaved around others.

Based on what you have read and what you saw Harlene Anderson do, explain to your colleagues how she is using Collaborative approach ideas to change client's meanings and behaviors. Once again, use examples from the video you watched or other sources. Dr Anderson included another therapist in the session and sought to find out what she thought. The guest therapist wrapped up what had transpired in the encounter and stated her apprehension with regard to Anita's experience.

The honesty of the therapist and the accompanying integrity reinforced her connection with the clients and boosted collaboration in the healing process. The recovery model can be combined with collaborative therapy techniques when leading the client to realize solutions to their issues via collaborative conversation. Such stance makes the client feel competent and empowered to take action that is meaningful. In the course of treating Anita, Dr. Anderson applied conversational questions to grasp the nature of Anita's issue.

She also shared her inner dialogue by stating that she had been thinking it was some kind of a question She also made unusual comments such as what the client had done to prompt the state of affairs. The unknowing stance prompts a therapist to pose questions that appear trivial (Anderson, 2009). That outlook makes Anita develop a new perspective in the exploration of her thoughts. They start to voice to their situation in a dramatic fashion or quiet way.

It effectively presents them with a new direction of thought and action. In particular, in place of her viewing her daughter's moving out as a sign of her mothering failures, she was able view the action as a chance for the daughter to know her father and developing a healthy relationship between them. The main goal of collaborative therapy is to increase the sense of agency of the client. When thoughts are heard, aloud, for the first time, the perspective of the situation changes.

It may happen in a subtle way or dramatically" (Gehart, 2014). Therapists endeavor to stabilize clients by facilitating an atmosphere that makes them open up, feel free and comfortable. They use collaborative conversation to achieve that end. They also normalize client issues by shifting focus from the problem and encouraging clients to only focus on their feelings in the course of their experiences. Therapists also elevate a client's self view by showing that their knowledge is helpful.

Consequently, the client increases their sense of agency, and in turn inculcate self acceptance in the client (Anderson, 2009). Social constructionist therapists work to stabilize, normalize, and create acceptance in clients as methods of solving the concerns of clients. Help your colleagues to understand what these mean and how to use them in therapy. The therapist comes into the session in a way that does not judge the client. This in turn helps the client to stabilize, creates acceptance and normalize.

This means (in a social constructionist viewpoint) does not seek to solve the client's problem. He is only curious on how the client creates meaning out of their situation and events in life (Gehart, 2014). The client is assisted to transform the meaning of their life events through diabolical conversation. Therapists create a relaxed environment to assist the client to feel easy in the course of conversation in order to stabilize the client.

Therapists normalize clients by shifting the pressure from the prevailing issue by changing conversation to the client's feeling currently. Acceptance is achieved by the therapist creating a mutual standpoint on the client's view of the world around them. Consequently, the client develops a feeling of stability and accepts herself. Anita expressed a range of concerns with regard to her relationship with her daughter Lindsay, the level of appropriateness in their interactions and how guilty she felt about the relationship.

Anderson, along with her colleague, engaged Anita in such a manner that acknowledged the client's expertise in their own life (Anderson, 1994). The client states that she does not wish to become depressed again. She wonders what she would do with her time when her daughter is gone. The questions were significant and valid. By sharing them with the therapists through dialogue, they found solutions together on how to stabilize, create acceptance and normalize for Anita.

The therapist appears to have achieved it by allowing the client to construct her own narrative, and subsequently follow through by owning and being the protagonist in her story. Her affirmation that she was a good mother stirred changes in her self-agency. It also influenced her thoughts and behavior trends with respect to her daughter and ex husband. The follow up therapy she did indicated a remarkable improvement in her being, overall. The therapist is focused on helping the client develop self agency, have goals and transform.

In collaborative therapy, dialogical conversation is used to make the client an expert of their own narrative. The therapist leads the conversation with sheer curiosity. Such curiosity encourages the client to shift their perception of the meaning of their situation and issues. Video example: The client is asked by the therapist how she salvaged her relationship with her son. She asked the client to explain how she related with her son. She enquired how the relationship with her son differed from that she had with her daughter.

Another method of intervention in the collaborative therapy approach is to focus on strengths and resiliency. How could this strategy be applied to clients with whom your colleagues in this agency work? It is possible to apply resiliency and strength by using therapeutic compliments. This means acknowledging and complimenting the accomplishments achieved by the client. This should be followed up through posing coping questions such as how Dr. Anderson asks Anita. She asks her how she was able to improve her relationship with her son.

Collaborative therapists aim at strengths and abilities of clients to help in the construction of their optimistic views (Gehart, 2014). Therapeutic compliments, acknowledging and complimenting the accomplishments of the client can be used to apply the strategy, and completed with coping questions. The client was kept stable and normal by the therapist by redirecting her feelings and thoughts, including her narrative. She was helped to focus on her strengths and resilience. It is observed that her anger faded away. For instance, she noted that getting angry did not help her.

She acknowledged the need to work on avoiding being oversensitive. She eventually found workable solutions for herself. An immediate instance that comes to the fore is when she achieved a stable relationship with her ex and her daughter by reducing conflict. The intention of the therapist is to develop self urgency in the client. She seeks to help the client build resiliency and have strength to cope with their situation, and to ascertain that they highlight the strengths of the client.

The importance of focusing on the strengths of the client cannot be overemphasized. The strengths of a client can significantly affect their change therapeutically. The client is assisted to focus on what could go right as opposed to what could possibly go wrong. From your knowledge about this model, name and describe additional techniques used by Harlene Anderson that you believe would be helpful in treating the agency's clientele. Dr.

Anderson had the second therapist attending the session and asked her at the end what she thought of the session and the client. The guest therapist expressed what had been discussed in brief and aired her concerns about the experience of the client. The integrity and honesty shown by the therapist helped to reinforce her connection and collaboration with the client in the healing process. Collaborative techniques can be utilised with the model for recovery when facilitating the client to find solutions to the problem they are experiencing.

This can be achieved through collaborative conversation. Such action allows the clients to view themselves as competent and with the ability to take action that is meaningful. Collaborative therapy aims at increasing the sense of urgency in the client. The text points out that hearing thoughts expressed aloud shifts the client's perspective of their predicament. It may be subtle or dramatic in nature (Gehart, 2014). The therapist aims to make the client stable by providing an atmosphere that makes them feel comfortable. This can be achieved via collaborative conversation techniques.

She normalizes the concerns by changing focus from the problem and leading the client to focus on what they feel in the experience. The therapist also actively shows that the knowledge of the client is valuable by acknowledging and complimenting; and in turn helping the client to achieve acceptance (Gehart, 2014). When Anita points out that she feels like a failure, for instance, the therapist actively listens, restructures the interaction with the client by asking them whether the client was going to miss her daughter.

She further asks the client whether she thinks that people will think of her as a bad mother. The client recounts the better days of her relationship with her daughter, including a point when Lindsay volunteered to go out and sprinkled hot water on the trees just so they would not freeze and returned to pursue a conversation with her mother. In this instance, Anita sees her daughter as a friend. She became a good mother at such times.

Describe to your colleagues how this therapy model and techniques could be used with the recovery model The collaborative therapy and recovery model changes the mental health vision of recovery to specified practices and principles which are handy options for defining the competencies of practitioners, shared across disciplines in the mental health area. It collects the practices that are based on evidence in mental health environs within communities has larger evidence based on constructs that are consistent with the psychological recovery process.

CRM is viewed to be consistent with the recovery vision of services and consumers through its emphasis on nurture of hope, encouraging autonomy and the subjective ownership of goals. Combining collaborative therapy and the recovery model marshals the uniqueness of the experiences lived and the client's ownership of the process of recovery. Anderson et al. (2000) in his recent studies discovered four common processes of recovery: hope finding, redefinition of identity, attaching meaning to life and owning the recovery process.

The achievement of a recovery orientation in mental health service needs training and developing attitudes and requisite skills for the work force. The CRM and Recovery Model along with the associated trainings were anchored on evidence base, key skills identification and the realization of the key role of subjective experience of the clients' recovery (Oades, Deane, Crowe, & Lloyd, 2005). Describe to the participants in the training, how you believe this model will enhance their ability to intervene in the lives of clients served by the agency.

Anita benefited immensely from the therapy.