Description of the Context and Theorists
Collaborative therapy is an approach that emphasizes a collaborative relationship between the therapist and the client. It was developed by theorists such as Carl Rogers and Irvin Yalom (Aka & Labelle, 2021). It is based on the core principles of collaborative therapy developed by Lynn Hoffman, which include respect, genuineness, empathy, collaboration, and self-responsibility (Cleophas et al., 2019).
Rogers’ work focuses on the importance of empathy and unconditional positive regard in the therapeutic process (Aka & Labelle, 2021). In contrast, Yalom’s work emphasizes the importance of mutuality and collaboration between the therapist and the client (Buttaro et al., 2019).
The collaborative model is an approach to therapy that focuses on utilizing the strengths and resources of both the therapist and the client (Starbird et al., 2019). It emphasizes the client’s agency and autonomy over their own life. Additionally, the theory focuses on creating a safe and non-judgmental space for clients to feel comfortable and open to discussing their struggles and needs.
The theory of collaboration has been used to treat various mental health issues and populations, including clients with anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance use disorders (Cleophas et al., 2019). It is effective in helping clients develop a more positive self-image, increased self-awareness, and improved interpersonal relationships.
Therapeutic Relationship
Collaborative therapists have a relationship with the client based on collaboration and respect. The psychiatrists and client work together to identify the client’s strengths, needs, and goals (González-García et al., 2020).
The therapist adopts a philosophical stance that emphasizes the client’s autonomy and dignity. They encourage clients to develop their ideas and solutions while providing support and guidance.
The approach creates a safe and trusting environment where clients can explore their thoughts and feelings without judgment (Aka & Labelle, 2021). Psychoanalysts also seek to help the client develop more effective strategies for dealing with life challenges.
Concepts of Shifting the Meanings and Beliefs of Clients
The collaborative approach focuses on shifting the meanings and beliefs of clients. It involves the therapist engaging in dialogue with the client to challenge and explore their thoughts, values, and beliefs (Buttaro et al., 2019). The psychologist also encourages the client to explore alternative perspectives, express emotions, and make connections between their thoughts and feelings.
The process of collaborative model can involve helping clients reframe how they view their life experiences, recognize the past’s influence in the present, identify unhelpful patterns of thinking, and explore new perspectives.
In the movie Ordinary People, the psychoanalyst helps Conrad, the main character, to shift his beliefs and meanings by helping him to explore the impact of his father’s death on his life (Cleophas et al., 2019). He helps Conrad understand the consequences of his father’s death on his behavior and the importance of accepting rather than denying it.
Through the collaborative process, Conrad eventually understands that the demise of his father was not his fault and that he can live a meaningful life without him in it (Cleophas et al., 2019). This shift in beliefs and meanings leads to a significant improvement in Conrad’s functioning.
In sum, changing the interpretations and values of clients is an important part of collaborative therapy. It involves helping clients explore their life experiences and challenge their ideas and opinions. This process can lead to improved functioning and more productive life.
Concepts of Seeking to Restructure Client Interactions
The collaborative approach also seeks to restructure client interactions or direct the client to change their behavior. This can involve the therapist helping the client become aware of their negative behavior patterns, develop more effective strategies for dealing with difficult emotions, and recognize how their behavior affects others (González-García et al., 2020).
- Cognitive changes: The psychologist encourages the family to challenge their assumptions and beliefs contributing to the problem and to identify alternative ways of thinking.
- Behavioral changes: The psychiatrist helps the family to identify patterns of interaction that are causing the problem and to develop new patterns of behavior to replace them.
- Emotional changes: The therapist helps the family to identify their underlying emotions and to manage them constructively.
Model Interventions
One example of a model intervention is Narrative Therapy. This type of therapy focuses on the client’s personal story. By exploring the client’s experiences, the therapist and client can create a new narrative that can help the client gain insight and make positive changes in their life.
Another example is Solution-Focused Therapy. This type of therapy focuses on the client’s desired outcome and the progress they have already made towards achieving it. The therapist and client work together to identify solutions and create a plan to achieve these goals.
The film showed an example of Narrative Therapy. The therapist helped the client to reflect on their experiences and create a new narrative about themselves. The video also showed an example of Solution-Focused Therapy. The therapist and client worked together to identify solutions to the client’s problem and create a plan for the client to achieve their goals.
How Collaborative Therapists Focus on Strengths and Resiliency
Collaborative therapists focus on strengths and resiliency. This can involve helping the client to identify their strengths and build on them to create positive changes in their life (Starbird et al., 2019). The psychologists will work with the client to identify specific strategies and action steps that they can take to enable them to reach their goals, while providing support and encouragement to build their self-confidence and belief in their own abilities.
Use with the Recovery Model
Collaborative therapy techniques can be used with the recovery model to help clients develop more effective coping strategies, build self-esteem, and gain a sense of mastery over their lives (Cleophas et al., 2019).
Capacity to Intervene in the Lives of Clients
This model can enhance the ability of the staff to intervene in the lives of clients served by the agency. It can help the staff better understand the client’s perspectives and experiences, identify the underlying causes of problematic behaviors, and design effective interventions tailored to each client’s individual needs (González-García et al., 2020).
References
Aka, K. G., & Labelle, F. (2021). The Collaborative Process of Sustainable Innovations under the Lens of Actor–Network Theory. Sustainability, 13(19), 10756. Web.
Buttaro, T. M., Polgar-Bailey, P., Sandberg-Cook, J., & Trybulski, J. (2019). Primary Care E-Book: A Collaborative Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Cleophas, C., Cottrill, C., Ehmke, J. F., & Tierney, K. (2019). Collaborative urban transportation: Recent advances in theory and practice. European Journal of Operational Research, 273(3), 801–816. Web.
González-García, J., Gómez-Espinosa, A., Cuan-Urquizo, E., García-Valdovinos, L. G., Salgado-Jiménez, T., & Escobedo Cabello, J. A. (2020). Autonomous underwater vehicles: Localization, navigation, and communication for collaborative missions. Applied Sciences, 10(4), 1256. Web.
Starbird, K., Arif, A., & Wilson, T. (2019). Disinformation as collaborative work: Surfacing the participatory nature of strategic information operations. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 3(CSCW), 1–26. Web.