The role of the psychologist and the approach they would take towards psychotherapy from a first order approach.
The role of the psychologist and
... [Show More] the approach they would take towards psychotherapy from a second order approach.
The concept of change, and how change is conceptualised from a FOC. The concept of change, and how change is conceptualised from a SOC.
KEY AREAS TO FOCUS ON AND IMPORTANT POINTS:
Document has to be a two-page essay.
Discuss FOC approach and role of psychologist. Discuss SOC approach and role of psychologist. First-order change as a FOC concept.
Second-order change as FOC concept. Discuss perturbation.
Describe perturbation as a SOC concept.
Base your essay on Becvar & Becvar 2009 and 2014. I I n clude in-text reference.
Include a reference list formatted according to APA 7th edition.
The role of the psychologist, and the approach they would take towards psychotherapy from a first order, and a second order approach.
The role of a therapist and the subsequent approach to therapy from each perspective.
In the FOC approach, psychotherapy is regarded as a corrective and normative means of addressing the problems of the system. As mentioned earlier, the therapist views the system from an objective position and imposes “changes”, and so the therapist is seen as an agent of change, and psychotherapy is regarded as corrective. The therapist is seen as an expert and change-agent who can create change within a system (restore health). The therapist then assesses, diagnoses and intervenes to restore “health” (in other words, can “fix” the problem). The individual is not the target of intervention, instead, the system is the focus.
These changes are made in accordance with normative standards and theory.
In second order cybernetics, the focus is on the creation of contexts within which people think about their thinking, or how they give meaning to their world(s). The aim is to create a context for change, rather than impose changes on the system. Here it is useful to understand the concepts of perturbation. We do not change the system; however, we create a context where change can occur, i.e., we perturb a system.
Please note that the term ‘perturb/perturbation’ in this context does not mean to feel uneasy or disturbed. A therapist joins in with the family, and becomes part of a therapeutic system (many students incorrectly interpret that the therapist becomes part of the family, which on a philosophical note may have some truth to it, however, for the purposes of this module, the therapist joins in a new system with the family, i.e., a therapeutic system). A system will respond to various perturbations in a manner that is consistent with its structure. Objectivity is rejected and instead we understand that our experiences are subjective. In addition, the therapist is not no longer seen as an expert (expert of psychology yes, expert of the clients’ lives, no), but instead the therapist and family members are then seen to co-create new realities, with a
focus on language, dialogue and meaning. Each version of reality, which is co-constructed, is viewed as equally valid and true.
As far as the role and function of the therapist are concerned, first and second order thinking differ along the following lines: In FOC thinking, the role of the therapist is to assess, diagnose and then to intervene to correct or change the system (which is regarded as problematic/dysfunctional) in line with normative standards. In the second order approach, the therapist is not seen as an agent of change or as an expert.
From the second order viewpoint, the therapist is regarded as a participating meaning maker or perturber of the ways in which others define their reality. The therapist cannot change people, but can create contexts in which people can think about change. The therapist will focus on the meaning assigned to symptoms, as opposed to the actual symptom. [Show Less]