From Modern Paradigms to Postmodern Paradigms: Therapeutic Interventions on a Journey of Change and Transformation

Abstract

The transition from a hierarchy-based approach to therapy, in which the counselor is seen as an objective observer of the client's life; to an egalitarian counselor-client relationship-based therapy approach, which holds the client in their strengths, focuses on what the solution is, and sees the client as an expert, is a radical paradigm shift in the field of psychology. The background of this change in psychology's perspective, based on the questioning of modernism's belief that truth, knowledge and reality are universal and valid beyond all times and places. These inquiries have given birth to the postmodernist paradigm, which argues that knowledge and truth are multiple, complex and relative, that knowledge is interpreted and constructed between people. Postmodernism, which has effects in many fields such as art, architecture, cinema and literature; has led to radical changes psychology’s view on human nature, the counselor-client relationship and the therapy process. This study aims to examine modernism and postmodernism from a historical perspective, and then to discuss the reflections of postmodernism on the field of psychology. In order to achieve this aim, first of all, the emergence of modernism, its epistemology, its basic assumptions and the reflections of modernism on psychology are discussed. Afterwards, the social and epistemological changes which occured in the transition from modernism to postmodernism were examined. After examining the epistemology and assumptions of postmodernism in comparison with modernism; the general characteristics of postmodern therapies and their perspective on human nature, therapy process and counselor-client relationship are discussed. The study further provides recommendation for future directions inTurkish counseling and therapy contetxs.