Psychotherapeutic effectiveness and social discourse : an ecosystemic exploration

Abstract

Extensive questions have been asked regarding the factors that influence psychotherapeutic effectiveness. Past research has addressed the methods, techniques, as well as the client and therapist variables which potentially influence psychotherapeutic effectiveness. The majority of the research indicates that the therapeutic relationship and other contextual variables exert the greatest influence on psychotherapy successes. This implicates the broader social context in psychotherapy processes. Language appears to be one of the primary contextual factors influencing psychotherapeutic processes and is also embedded in social discourse. Society dominant discourses appear to be based on deficit beliefs toward psychotherapy and emotional functioning. The more relevant issue concerning psychotherapeutic effectiveness therefore appears to be society's dominant discourses affecting the profession. Collaborative social discourses embracing psychology are seldom integrated into mainstream public discourse. A post-modern, ecosystemic perspective is applied to these concerns, proposing a collaborative approach to social discourse, psychotherapy and research. This utilizes reflective, multi-dimensional, respectful and nonjudgmental values, reflecting the shift in social paradigms from the Industrial Age to the Knowledge Age. This shift recognizes that cultural, social and language variables appear to have a greater impact on psychotherapeutic effectiveness than most therapeutic techniques or interventions. These discourses are explored and recommendations are made in an attempt to align psychotherapy with a shifting social paradigm. This alignment could enhance psychotherapeutic effectiveness and the general understanding of psychotherapy.