• Home
  • About
    • How Pluralistic Therapy Works
    • Introduction to Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy
    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the pluralistic approach
    • Writing a Blog for Pluralistic Practice
  • Training
    • Degree Courses
    • Master’s Courses
    • Doctoral Courses
  • Research
    • Research Initiatives
    • Evidence to Support Pluralistic Practice
    • Research News
  • Publications
  • Tools and Measures
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Network Meetings
    • Pluralistic Conference 2020
    • Past Networking Events
  • Blog

Pluralistic Practice

Celebrating diversity in therapy

  • Home
  • About
    • How Pluralistic Therapy Works
    • Introduction to Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy
    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the pluralistic approach
    • Writing a Blog for Pluralistic Practice
  • Training
    • Degree Courses
    • Master’s Courses
    • Doctoral Courses
  • Research
    • Research Initiatives
    • Evidence to Support Pluralistic Practice
    • Research News
  • Publications
  • Tools and Measures
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Network Meetings
    • Pluralistic Conference 2020
    • Past Networking Events
  • Blog

Meta-theories

March 7, 2019 Philosophy No Comments
Facebook0Tweet0Pin0

By John Mcleod

If you look at the history of how therapy has developed, it is clear that it comprises a fairly continuous set of arguments around the relative importance of psychological constructs such as cognition, emotion, behaviour, relationships, and biology. These debates are fascinating but in the end have not been very productive, tending to lead to transient fashions and the creation of competing ‘schools’, each of which specialises in one type of process.

Any attempt to assimilate the other processes into one superordinate construct (i.e., its all about neuroscience) can never convince the adherents of competing ideas. What seems to be much more effective, in terms of bringing together insights across the whole spectrum of cognition, emotion, etc., is to find a meta-theory, at a higher level of abstraction from which psychological ideas can be evaluated.

Pluralism is a meta-theory or meta-perspective, taken from philosophy. Pluralism, and its closely allied concept of dialogue, offers a standpoint from which it becomes possible to embrace all psychological constructs. In order to think critically about pluralism, it is necessary to compare it with other meta-perspectives that have been adopted by integrative therapists.  The main ones are: (i) feminism/social justice/relational ethics; (ii) environmentalism/ecology; (iii) religion/spirituality; (iv) science; (v) art/aesthetics/design; (vi) social anthropology/cultural studies.

It can be valuable to think about which (if any) of these meta-theories are meaningful for you, and how they shape and inform your approach as a therapist. Therapist development involves building a personal vision of what you are as a therapist and what you want to achieve over the course of your career. Being aware of your own ‘meta-theoretical’ leanings and affiliations are important aspects of that quest..   

Facebook0Tweet0Pin0

The pluralistic framework builds on pre-existing integrative approaches

Working together

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Blog Post Categories

  • Arts therapies (7)
  • CBT (1)
  • Children (1)
  • Co-production (3)
  • CPD (2)
  • Critiques (5)
  • Cultural diversity (3)
  • Cultural resources (5)
  • Deliberate practice (2)
  • Epistemology (1)
  • Gender (1)
  • Goals (3)
  • groups (2)
  • Information and Updates (10)
  • Integrative and Eclectic Practices (1)
  • Leadership (2)
  • Networking (1)
  • No Category (2)
  • Older adults (1)
  • Online (1)
  • Person-centred (6)
  • Personal (21)
  • Philosophy (14)
  • Policy (2)
  • Politics (5)
  • Practice (24)
  • Preferences (10)
  • Research (9)
  • Shared decision making (12)
  • Spirituality (1)
  • Strengths and Resources (1)
  • Supervision (2)
  • Therapeutic approaches (7)
  • Training (17)
  • Young people (2)

Recent Posts

  • Pluralistic Practitioners Network: Creativity and Storytelling Gathering January 18, 2021
  • The Strength that We Find in Our New Everyday January 5, 2021
  • Survey of Pluralistic Practice: Key Findings December 17, 2020
  • Pluralistic Therapy Cards: Playing with Potential November 26, 2020
  • Personal and Professional Development Groups in Counselling and Psychotherapy Training: A Pluralistic Perspective November 23, 2020
  • Focus: Finding my Strengths in Pluralistic Practice October 30, 2020
  • How Do You Ask Clients About Their Preferences? October 19, 2020
  • Metamodernism and Pluralism October 9, 2020
  • Pluralistic Practice Network: Creativity and Storytelling Gathering October 7, 2020
  • Moving from Busyness to Retirement and Older Age: Can Pluralistic Counselling Help? September 8, 2020

Subscribe to this Blog via Email

* indicates required
Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Doo by ThemeVS.