Explore Postmodernism and Social Constructionism

.docx

School

Northcentral University - Arizona *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

5105

Subject

Arts Humanities

Date

Feb 20, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by BarristerCapybaraPerson312

1 Explore Postmodernism and Social Constructionism Eboni Taylor Northcentral University MFT/5105: Recovery-Oriented Care & Postmodern Family Therapy Dr. Valerie Glass August 22, 2021

2 Explore Postmodernism and Social Constructionism Postmodernism and social constructionism is the way for marriage and family therapists to reach their clients. After viewing this week’s resources and grasping onto the information, it is time to reflect on what was discussed. In the following paper, there will be an explanation of clear and compelling ideas of postmodernism, along with a discussion to determine the relationship between postmodernism and systems theories. There will also be a discussion on how postmodernism helps facilitate conversations related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as an explanation of how postmodernism relates to the recovery model. The discussion will continue with the writer expressing anything confusing about the ideas of postmodernism and address any concerns or questions about the connection between postmodernism and marriage and family therapy. Ideas of Postmodernism Postmodernism is the revision on the way the modern therapist used to think about families. In modernism, the thought was a family had to be one way and the MFTs would diagnose and treat the family according to the families were seen(Northcentral University, 2017. One of the most compelling ideas of postmodernism is the way families are more than just what they should be, according to modern day therapists. The idea that a family can consist of a person who is of no blood relation (Northcentral University, 2017), is one of the best ideas to help understand the families reality. It is clear that postmodern families are more than a mother, father, two and half kids and a dog (Northcentral University, 2017). Relationship Between Postmodernism and Systems Theories When thinking about systems theories and how it relates to postmodernism, the thought of cybernetics comes to mind, specifically second-order cybernetics. Second-order cybernetics is

3 described as when an outsider, the therapist, has an influence on the system (Watters & Adamson, 2019). The relationship between second-order cybernetics and postmodernism, is the way individuals in the system relate to one another. For example, if there are members of the system who are used to bringing chaos, and others who are used to cleaning it up, that is their normal way of acting, but when the therapist becomes a part of the system, the system then changes (Glass, 2019). Postmodernism is the reality of the family system. How Postmodernism and Social Constructionism Inform Your Work as a Marriage and Family Therapist Social constructionism in marriage and family therapy identifies how people construct “reality” in their families and cultures through language (Glass, 2019). Postmodernism makes room for understanding each family’s experience separate from the idea of how families should be (Glass, 2019). In marriage and family therapy, problems that are presented in a socially constructed way, can be deconstructed, meaning, the therapist can help the client view their problem from a fresh vantage point, thus allowing for a solution (Glass, 2019). By separating the idea of how a family should be and the reality of who they are, gives the therapist a better chance at seeing change. How Postmodernism Helps Facilitate Conversations Related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion In therapy, conversations are what most sessions are and a postmodernist therapist will be skilled in facilitating a conversation about diversity, equity, and/or inclusion. Diversity in therapy is the cultural differences of the clients and the therapist. Equity is having fair and just treatments and equalities. Inclusion is regardless of how different a person is they should not be left out. The skilled postmodernist therapist would begin the conversation with a question about

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help