Why positive psychotherapy? A few initial thoughts...
Posted on Jan 6th, 2007
by 
Durwin
Durwin
- Positive psychotherapy has emerged relatively recently within the psychotherapy world, although it certainly has resonance with earlier threads such as humanistic and transpersonal approaches.
- We might think about why? why is positive psychotherapy emerging with such vigor?
- Well -- often new approaches emerge as some sort of reaction to imbalances in a given field; for example, Rogers pioneered person-centred therapy in part as a reaction to what? Well, therapist-centred therapy: where the therapist was expert and applied their knowledge to the largely passive patient
- Positive psychotherapy implies that psychotherapy has been, well, too focused on the negative!
- In AQAL terms, what are we talking about here then? States of consciousness (or affect, if we take it more narrowly). But staying broadly with states of consciousness: one of the key points of integral theory is that states of consciousness are accessible to all individuals. In particular, in the waking state, both subtle (often attributed to dreaming state), causal and nondual states are available to all human beings.
- Perhaps analogously, within psychology, research increasingly points to the fact that while two opposite states cannot exist simultaneously (e.g. can't be joyful and depressed in the same moment), they can and usually do co-exist over longer time periods
- Certainly over the course of time between typical therapy visits (say, weekly), both positive and negatively valenced states have been shown to nearly always co-exist (e.g. Susan Folkman's recent research)
- These are important findings, with very significant implications for the psychotherapy field
- A basic intuition of positive psychotherapy, then, is to bring awareness to (and thus strengthen -- given the creative power of awareness) these positive states of mind, which research shows tend to co-exist with negative states of mind even amongst people in dire circumstances (e.g. Susan Folkman's research looked at HIV positive men caretaking their dying partners! pretty stressful, yes?)
- furthermore, emphasizing and strengthening these (already occuring) positive states has tremendous benefits, as outlined in significant research documents
- One objection, particularly coming from a psychodynamic perspective, might be: yes, but isn't this a kind of repression? The answer, I believe, is no, as long as the therapeutic focus upon the positive states is not undertaken in opposition to negative states -- which it needn't be given that both tend to co-exist over periods of time. Certainly, in the moment, within a therapy session, a client presenting a negative state should not have that state denied, or if they are unaware of a state that they are presenting (e.g. unacknowledged sadness), they need to have that state brought to their attention -- yes, surely.
- But to the extent that the therapy focuses upon bringing to awareness and strengthening (always already) accessible states, or recently experiences positive states, then such activity does not constitute repression in the least
- repression is an activity (and pathology) of the self; whereas here we are dealing with states; as long as the therapist can differentiate these, then positive psychotherapy can be undertaken with great benefit, and should be incorporated into the arsenal of the integral psychotherapist (note: Ken Wilber's forthcoming work on transformations of consciousness will focus on distinguishing pathologies of states vs. structures vs. self -- personal communication)
Access: PublicTagged with: psychotherapy, integral psychotherapy, positive psychotherapy, positive, change, happiness, joy, gratitude, compassion, love, AQAL, states of consciousness, Ken Wilber
aqal
February 2008
Thanks for posting this.
I've been vaguely following the development of positive psychology over the years, and I have to say that it feels more like a band-aid than a form of healing.
I think there can be great value in supporting positive states, so in this sense positive psychology has a lot of value. But the problem is that it focuses almost exclusively ,as far as I can tell, on states and not on maladaptive splits in the developmental process (i.e., the development of unhealthy subpersonalities that can act as autonomous “selves,” for example). From what I have read, there seems to be a nearly total rejection of the “archeological” mode of therapy within the positive psychology camp.
To me, states can be seen as symptoms, but not as causes. So simply treating states is to ignore the underlying causes – the deeper psychological wounding that is causing the negative states.
Any real healing of pathology must address wounds to the psyche, and from what I have seen in my own experience, there must be clear access to and a freeing of “stuck” energy/emotions for the pathologies to be released.
Through avoiding these deeper wounds and focusing on positive states, it feels to me that positive psychology is equivalent to giving morphine to someone with a bleeding head wound – it might stop the pain for a while, but it won't address the underlying cause of the pain.
Of course, I am not a professional and I could be missing subtleties of how positive psychology is being used in the therapeutic setting.
I'd like to hear what you and others think about how PS can be used effectively to treat, for example, a person who is rigid, out of touch with emotions, and overly control-oriented as a result of chilhood abuse.
Peace,
Bill
Hi Bill: Thanks for this thought-provoking response. Yes, I think there is definitely the possibility for positive psychology to be used superficially. I think AQAL is what helps us contextualize it so that doesn't happen. I understand in Ken's forthcoming work he will be treating self-pathology, structure-pathology, and states-pathology as three differentiatable (sp?) strands that need to be addressed in a full model of the psyche. I think, as you suggest, that positive psychotherapy focuses on states, and could be looked at as a type of states training, in fact, not unlike mindfulness meditation. For example, if I do a “three blessings” exercise everyday for a month, I am going to train myself into more healthful states of consciousness over that time.
What I think you are saying is that doing so will not address the archeological layers involved – which in this tri-partite model Ken has proposed would involve the self-structure (and its dynamics such as repession, splitting, and so on); I entirely agree with you – there seems to continue to be a general rejection of psychodynamic psychology amongst most mainstream more cognitively-based psychologists. E.g. Mind and Life Institute, an otherwise amazing effort, has nearly zero psychodynamic discourse.
What we need is both/and here…
In my own dissertation, I hope to use Ken's model to develop a cognitive therapy that, because it will be all-quadrant, will necessitate the therapist beginning to address the interiors you describe. But I will anchor the model in cognition, partly as “skillful means”, given that cognitivists rule the day, and partly in acknowledgement of the “necessary but not sufficient” role that cognition plays in development.
Thanks again for your response…it is helping me clarify my own thinking on this.
Hi Durwin,
Thanks for the thoughtful reply.
I think the therapeutic world would benefit greatly from reading Wilber's Integral Psychology and, from what you have said, his forthcoming work. I have always felt Wilber is most in his element when dealing with psychology.
One of the problems I have had when looking for a therapist of my own is the complete lack of an AQAL model within the field. It's tough to take a therapist seriously when I know as much about the field as s/he does, and often more. So many therapists inhabit their little niche of training and cannot even converse intelligently (I always interview potential therapists) about modalities outside their limited expertise.
It's good to know that there is a new generation of therapists coming up who embrace an integral model. The world needs you.
Peace,
Bill
hey thanks…
and…in the Zaadz spirit of conscious capitalism, I hope to find some way to interface my counselling work via Zaadz…perhaps when ZPro tools comes out…do you know much about those? i'll check your profile again to see what you do “for a living”
d
I don't know much about the ZPro tools. I remember them talking about it, but that's about it.
As a writer, I haven't seen any ways to generate work through Zaadz, though I haven't really tried. And as a trainer, I have more business than I can handle already, so I haven't really tried to market myself here.
My ex, Kira, had some good results with generating business for her life coaching business through Zaadz. I think other coaches have as well.
Bill
thanks for this!
Durwin