Week 5

Week 6

Introduction
“Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not
even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God
clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into
the fire, how much more will he clothe you–you of little faith!” (Luke 12:26-28,
NIV)

Week 6 Overview

This week we will explore the postmodern approach and its key concepts, processes,
and applications. Solution-Focused, Narrative, and Motivational Interviewing are
considered a part of this approach. Additionally, exploring integrative perspectives
towards counseling offers pathways to consider in the therapeutic process and the
advantages of being an eclectic clinician. Furthermore, an understanding of how to
integrate multicultural spiritual counseling is critical to being an effective and efficient
counselor.

Week 6 Tasks
● Discussion: The Postmodern Approach
● Essay: Integrative Approach
● Quiz: Chapters 13 & 15

Week 6 Readings

& Resources
Week 6 Objectives

After successful completion of this week’s module, the student will be able to:

● Explain the philosophy and basic assumptions underlying Postmodern and
Integrative Therapies.

● Define and describe the key concepts of Postmodern and Integrative Therapies
and how they are incorporated into the therapeutic process.

● Analyze the strengths and the shortcomings of Postmodern and Integrative
Therapies as applied to diverse populations.

● Describe and infer contemporary trends in therapy.
● Compare and contrast the role of the counselor when utilizing these theoretical

models.
● Develop self awareness of how theoretical models correspond with personal

values and views on change.

Required Readings & Resources

Corey, G. (2024). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (11th ed.).

● Chapter 13: “Postmodern Approaches”
● Chapter 15: “An Integrative Perspective”

Postmodern Therapy

Links to an external site.

Gwen Therapy Videos:

● Chapter 13: Postmodern Approaches: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

● Links to an external site.
●
● Chapter 15: Integrative Approaches
● Links to an external site.
●

Part A-Discussion: The Postmodern Approach
Review the Discussion Requirements for this course before responding to the prompt
below.

Postmodern approach is a collaborative therapy where the client and clinician work
together through collaborative dialogue to find a solution that works for the client. It’s
highly effective because instead of someone telling the client how to think, behave, or
act in relation to the client’s reason for therapy, the client and clinician work together.
After all, clients know themselves better than anyone else.

Watch the following videos and answer the prompts:

● Postmodern Therapy
● Links to an external site.
●
● Chapter 13: Postmodern Approaches: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
● Links to an external site.
●

This discussion board will be in two parts, please use the headers below to denote what
topic you are discussing.

Part I: Postmodern Therapy

● How comfortable are you with the approach of solution-focused brief therapy?
Do you find it too direct, or do you see it as a practical and reasonable
approach for counseling in an environment that imposes limits on the number
of therapy sessions?

● How would you explain SBFT to a client and help them engage in the
process? Give an example of when SBFT would be effective.

● Discuss what narrative therapy is and how/when it would be used. Give an
example of when you think narrative therapy would be effective.

Part II: Gwen

● What do you notice about the therapeutic relationship between Gwen and her
therapist (e.g., collaborative, teaching, cold, warm, etc.)? Explain.

● How did the therapist’s use of exception questions help Gwen?

● If you could make any suggestions for Gwen’s next steps in getting what she
wants, what would it be?

Provide at least two article resources (other than the videos) to support your thought
process and comments. Citations and the reflection must be formatted according to the
APA guidelines.

Part B-Essay: Integrative Approach
Ungraded, 70 Possible Points
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Integrative psychology uses a wide range of approaches in combination to be a more

effective and efficient counselor with the client. It is defined as an attempt to look

beyond the confines of single-school approaches to see what can be learned from other

perspectives and is characterized by a clinician to be open to varying ways to integrate

diverse theories and techniques.

Watch the video about Gwen, Chapter 15: Integrative Approaches

Links to an external site.

, and write an essay with at least 600 words. The essay is split into two parts containing

a minimum of 300 words per part. Use the headings below to delineate your writing

content.

Part I: Integration
Address the following in this section:

● What is the difference between being eclectic and being integrative?
● In using an integrative approach, how do you know which therapeutic

approaches to focus on in session?
● Discuss what two theories you think work together for you. Why do they work

for you?

Part II: Gwen Video
As the clinician in the video used several different theories we have studied in this

course, discuss what integrative theory the clinician used and how he used them with

Gwen.

Provide at least two article resources (other than the videos) to support your thought

process and comments. Citations and the reflection must be formatted according to the

APA guidelines.

Your grade will be determined according to the Reflection/Essay Rubric embedded in

this assignment.