Western vs non-western psychotherapy - Essay Example

WESTERN VS NON-WESTERN PSYCHOTHERAPY INTRODUCTION Man's mind is a very complex labyrinth of ideas, perceptions, schemas, and many other things which makes him the most rational being ever created. In this light, many thinkers, dating back from the ancient era have already made attempts in studying the manner by which man think and acts. From Aristotle to the modern day psychologists, these men have created a network of knowledge and a discipline of science which aims to develop and further improve man's life by informing them about how our mind works and at the same time solving our problems using several standard methods. Helping people out in circumstances which entails a closer examination of a person's way of thinking and several other factors is one concrete example of how the discipline of psychology has helped and is currently helping people. Through a scientific method of solving man's problems, the branch of psychotherapy is considered a blessing to all of us. PSYCHOTHERAPY DEFINED Basically, therapy is the manner by which a specialist, more specifically a health care provider, aids a person in intervening with his or her problems regarding his body as a whole. Problems may be physical or mental and therefore there are several therapeutic techniques which are needed in order to help people out. One important therapeutic technique is the communication skill of the therapist. Through a good skill in communication, the client would be able to speak out his or her mind, thus making the therapy session easier to carry out. Another important facet in making a therapy more successful is the rapport that should be established between the client and the therapist. Through this helping-trust relationship, which most therapist fail to establish, the session would be very significant and the client won't feel hesitant in pouring his or her feelings out (Watson, 1985, p. 124; Rosenzweig, 1936, p. 412-415). Psychotherapy, therefore, is a many-system intervention carried out by a psychotherapist with the complete cooperation of the patient in dealing with the patient's problems in life. Only that this kind of therapy is more specific and is only bounded in the context of people with problems involving their mental aspect or their way of thinking. The session between the therapist and the client may last for several sessions up to more than a year depending on the success of the treatment (Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th Ed., 2007). This healing method helps increase a persons potential to live a full and happy life and in preventing further discomforts and uneasiness in life. Aside from improving the metal state and health of a person, it also helps him improve the relationship of the patient to other persons and even his relationship with himself as a person. Through counseling and techniques in communicating with people, the psychotherapist aids the client in achieving a healthy and comfortable life. WESTERN AND NON-WESTERN MODELS Most methods of psychotherapy, like the Adlerian Model, Rogerian Method, Freudian modalities, have been pioneered by the well-renowned psychologists and psychiatrists before. In the western world, these are the most used techniques and have been proved effective through extensive researches. However, the effectiveness of these techniques doesn't just rely on the technique alone. There are also several extra therapeutic influences which can aid in a more successful therapy such as motivation and awareness of the problem (Lambert, 1992, p. 94-129). There are also these non-western or non-western modalities of psychotherapy which are being practiced mostly in Asian countries. The purposes of these non-western modalities are also similar to that of the western. However, there are differences in the manner through which the therapy is being carried out and the techniques being used. Just like the western models, the therapy involves the client and the healer with the addition of the characters which are secondary to the client such as his or her memories, problems and the like (Benson, 2005). One example of these non-western modalities is the Balinese Trance Sance- wherein a mediator serves as the bridge through which the client will communicate with someone, more specifically a spirit. In the succeeding discussion, this paper would be presenting an objective comparison and contrast between the western and non-western psychotherapeutic models. As such, the paper would be focusing on two or more specific models and analyze the similarities and differences in all aspects of the therapy- from the educational background expertise of the therapist until the outcome evaluation of the patient and client. Serving similar objectives, the western and non-western models of therapy have these common underlying concepts which they stand for in this practice. To name some are their purpose of treatment, the relationship of the healer and the client, the termination phase of treatment and many other concepts. A basic analysis and weighing of the effectiveness of these models are important in the field of therapy and medicine as well. Knowledge about these methods is significant not only because of their historical importance but also because these methods, most especially the non-western methods, are being appreciated and practiced by a growing number of populations. Also, these eastern practices are being gradually incorporated into the western tradition of medicine which just makes it justifiable to be given enough attention and importance. THE WESTERN METHOD- JUNGIAN THERAPY Among the western methods of counseling and psychotherapeutic techniques, this discussion will focus mainly on the Jungian process of counseling and methodology. This specific method was chosen because of the similarity and significant difference between this method and the non-western technique which will be given discussion in the succeeding statements. The Jungian Process is a method formulated by the famous Carl Gustav Jung. This method incorporates several major concepts such as the client's personality, shadow, self, complexes and other significant information and details which would aid the solution of the problem. The key concept of the Jungian Psychotherapy Approach is a person's ability to let go of his or her inhibitions and be one with his or her conscious and unconscious being. According to Jung, through the help of individuation and transcendence of one's opposite forces of personality that a person achieves self-realization and develops optimal capacity to perform things (Jung, 1971d, p. 8). In this light, the Jungian Method- as practiced by the Western culture will be compared and correlated with the Non-western Method of treating a person with the help of mediators called Shamanism. THE NON-WESTERN METHOD- SHAMANISM Shamanism, as the term suggests, is a non-western technique of treating a patient with problems through the help of a shaman. The shaman in this case acts as the mediator between the client and the spirit which needs reconciliation with the client. There are many variations with the Shamanistic beliefs; however, this paper would be tackling in specifics, the non-western method of Shamanic therapy. In Shamanic therapy, one can found his or her deep traumas being transformed into nothingness (Prattis, n.d., 1). The patient and even the shaman is brought to an altered state of consciousness (ASC) which furthers amplifies the healing process. This ASC which the mainstream medicine fails to recognize (Winkelman, 1992, 121-123) is the main facet of the shamanic therapy which enables both parties to engage in a more successful yet risky process. It is through these unique features of shamanism which makes it a growing resort of therapy for those who cannot afford the Western traditional therapy sessions. There are several misconceptions which people hold into when it comes to the shamanic tradition of healing. One of them is the anomalous procedures which many believe to happen during a session of treatment. Also, people view shamanism as a dangerous method of therapy which should be avoided because of the incompetence of the healer. JUNGIAN THERAPY AND SHAMANISM These two models of therapy, as mentioned earlier, have several similarities and significant differences. A comparison and contrast of these modalities will further be discussed in the succeeding pages of this paper. It is through this reason that these two concepts of psychotherapy will be scrutinized and taken into consideration. One example of the common denominator between both shamanic healing and Jungian Therapy is their concept of the altered state of consciousness. This ASC is most prominent in shamanism but in terms of Jungian therapy, it comes in the concept of active imagination (Jung, 1960). If the ASC is the major feature of Shamanism, then many also refer to the active imagination as Jungian Therapy's "crux" (Signell, 1990) which enables man to enter one's source, the center of all his emotions, feelings and values. Through this active imagination, the conversation or session which happens becomes more deep and significant (Geist, 1998). Other underlying factors which correlate shamanism and Jungian therapy, as mentioned earlier, are the way the healers relate to their client, the method of payment, the termination process and other important similarities between both methods. These methods would be scrutinized and taken into account. THE HEALER AND THE CLIENT The most important aspects of both models are most probably the healer and the client. These two personalities involved in the therapy session would be discussed and analyzed so that we could formulate a hypothetical case of effectiveness of both methods. In the traditional method, the healer is referred to as a psychotherapist or more specifically, in Jungian therapy, a Jungian Analyst (Harris, 2005). This psychotherapist is expected to be knowledgeable in the field and the discipline of psychotherapy and psychiatry, as well. Since psychotherapists are expected to professionally treat their clients, a medical model/ approach of treatment is expected of them. This can only be achieved through studying courses of the same title. Usually, it takes almost five years to complete the course and may or may not include the residency requirements for being one. Studying psychotherapy is an intricate task since a person studies to solve a persons psychological, and almost all sorts of problems through the use of communication skills, analysis, with the aid of some medications as needed. More often than not, the clients come from well-off families since this type of therapy requires several follow-ups and is really costly. Sessions last up to several years, depending on the effectivity and success of the therapy. Since this treatment requires more money, there is a high percentage that most of the clients come from families with enough resources financially. As to the shamanistic healing, a person cannot just choose to be a shaman. Being a shaman requires a lot from a person. One becomes a shaman through heredity, calling or own sacrifice in choosing to be one (Emphatys.co, n.d.). One does not study to become a shaman. It is through a one-minded purpose, which many refer to as calling, which enables a person to open his eye, enlighten his mind and begin embarking on this journey. Also, since these shamans are very common in rural and undeveloped areas, it is expected that the clients of the shamans are those who have very limited resources. Another is that since the manner by which shamans treat their clients is only quick and lasts for usually a single session, the cost is just affordable. From this, we can expect that the clients of these shamans are not that well-off in life. However, there are also well-off people who also seek the advice of shamans in their problems which they either think cannot be solved by the traditional psychotherapy or really require the aid of the shamans. THERAPIST-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP In a research conducted by Hubble, Duncan and Miller (1999), it was quoted that thirty percent of the success and effectiveness of the treatment is credited to the therapeutic relationship of the client and the healer. In the context of psychotherapy, the practitioners apply the therapeutic techniques learned from the course taken. Different therapeutic skills such as communication, rapport building and the likes are important in making the treatment more successful. Also, client confidentiality is also being valued because of the sessions which are held in privacy and distance from other people. Through this relationship, the client can be assured that what he or she discloses would only be limited to the knowledge the practitioner to which he or she confided to. In terms of the shaman healing, there is also a relationship between the client and the shaman, however, the way that the client may disclose to the shaman would be more reserved because of the expertise of the shaman is in question. Whereas, when the healer is a psychiatrist, the client may feel more unhesitant to disclose. However, this behavior varies from person to person. And since for most people who patronize shamanic therapy, they really have no choice but to disclose since these shamans are their last resort in treating themselves. In places where shamans are a big help, especially in remote minority groups, they can be very powerful and prestigious because of their abilities, however, they too, may be feared because of their power of getting into one's core which may hurt others. THE HEALING PROCESS The purpose by which the shaman and a psychotherapist lives up to is the same, that is, to treat the problems which their client is having, only that the method by which they carry out this goal is different. For the shaman, they do several practices in treating their client. Since they are believed to have the ability to communicate with the sprits, they are having these practices before they perform their healing. The shaman primarily performs this initiation rite which may be compared to the rite done by the priests (Campbell, 1976). After the initiation of the shaman which may come in the form of singing, dancing and the like, the second phase called sharmanic illness takes place. This phase is what we usually think of when we encounter the word shaman. This phase resembles the shaman singing, dancing or announcing rituals unconventionally in a very disturbing manner which may be compared to a person being possessed by spirits. The shaman thus heals the client by entering into a person's body and banishing the infectious spirits which they believe to be the cause of all diseases. Through this process, the shaman puts himself into great peril for he or she might not be able to regain consciousness from his altered state. Various kinds of paraphernalia are used by these shamans in aiding for the treatment. These materials further strengthen the treatment and the vanquishing of bad spirits. It may include drums, cedar, plants and other skills such as dancing, singing, fasting, vigils and the like. With respect to Jungian Therapy, it is a depth approach in dealing with a person's psychopathology or the cause of a mental suffering which radiates to other personal aspects. In this treatment, the client is made more imaginative and active and thus becomes the writer, actor, editor and director of his or her story whereas the therapist acts as the audience and director at some points. However, in some cases, the therapist also needs to be part of the story where her mutual experience is also needed for the patient's motivation and for the patient to be related to him or her. This intricacy of the role of the therapist is another important thing which symbolizes both Jungian Therapy and Shamanism. SPECIAL TECHNIQUES As discussed earlier in this paper, there are several special techniques used by Shamanic Healing and Jungian Therapy. Both uses imagination in the form of Altered State of Consciousness (Shamanic) and Active Imagination (Jungian). Aside from these, the Shamans also use several techniques such as the Near Death Experience, which they believe to be neuroactivaters of the client's experience which may be significant in the process of treatment. They also use several breaths and chants which help in the treatment. In terms of the Jungian Therapy, perhaps another important aspect is the way Jungian analysts work with dreams. These dreams are said to be images from the other side which defines the problems being experienced today. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND TERMINATION Outcomes are measured by the time the termination phase is about to begin. In both modalities, the success of the therapy is merely based on the resolution of the problems that the patients are encountering at the offset of the therapy. The patient's condition and lifestyle is the key determinant in the success or failure of the therapy. CONCLUSION Dealing with the problems of the clients is probably one of the most intricate tasks a man may involve himself into. Solving them requires a lot and it is highly expected for a therapist to be effective, innovative and product oriented rather than being process oriented. Therefore, the therapist must, at all times, be flexible with the emotional fluctuations and possible outbursts of the clients, yet still clinging onto the same purpose and objectives. It is in this light that the western and non-western models of therapy have evolved. Each person is unique and therefore, every problem needs to be solved in an individual basis not through a stereotyped approach. There are things that one solution can solve and others cannot, and the other way around. These modalities of therapy are very important in our lives. Westernized or not, these methods have been proven to be effective by many others who have undergone such treatments. Rather than questioning their capacities and limitations, it would be better if we appreciate them because no one can testify for or against them but the clients who have been part of this integral approach. Since each man is unique from others, one may be true to him while one may not. That is the main principle behind these therapies. These therapeutic techniques are a gift to us and we should appreciate them, nevertheless. REFERENCE LIST: Watson, J. (1985) Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring, Boulder: Colorado Associated University Press. Rosenzweig, S. (1936) Some implicit common factors in diverse methods in psychotherapy, Journal of Orthopsychiatry 6: 412-415. Lambert, M. J. (1992) Implications of outcome research for psychotherapy integration, in J. C. Norcross & M. R., Goldfried: Handbook of Psychotherapy Integration, 94-129. Author not available, (2007) PSYCHOTHERAPY, The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2007 The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2007 Columbia University Press Benson, Ronald (2005) Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Prattis, Ian (n.d.) Healing Journeys: Shamanism as a Therapy, Carleton University Ottawa, Canada K1S 5B6 Joseph Campbell (1959), The Masks of God: Primitive Mythology, New York and London: Penguin Books, 1976. Hubble, Mark A.; Barry L. Duncan and Scott D. Miller (Eds) (1999) The Heart and Soul of Change: What Works in Therapy, American Psychological Association. Winkelman, M.J. (1992) Shamans, Priests and Witches. A Cross-Cultural study of Magico-Religious Practitioners, Arizona State University Anthropological Research Papers No. 44 Jung, C.G. (1960) The Transcendant Function. In the Collected Works of C. G. Jung, V.8. Princeton: Princeton University Press Signell, K. A. (1990) Wisdom of the heart: Working with women's dreams. New York: Bantam. Harris, S. M. (2005) What is Jungian psychotherapy, Retrieved from the Depth Psychotherapy Network website: http://www.depth-psychotherapy-network.com/Consumer_Section/Orientation_Overviews/Jungian%20Psychotherapy/Harris_Jungian.htm Read More