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I have noticed that many people use paradoxical intervention to mean that the therapist instructs a family member to deliberately engage in the symptom, and although they aren’t wrong, they aren’t completely correct either. This is because that is only one example of a paradoxical intervention called “prescribing the symptom”. In fact, there are quite a few paradoxical interventions. See below for a list of these interventions that strategic family therapists often use when issuing directives with a family…
Paradoxical Interventions:
Prescribing the symptom–instructing a family member to deliberately engage in a symptom. Example–telling a procrastinator to put off completing his tasks
Ordeals–instructing a family member to do an unpleasant task whenever a symptom occurs. Example–a man who dislikes his mother-in-law might be instructed to give her an expensive gift every time he argues with her.
Restraining–Encouraging the family not to change. This is designed to provoke defiance in the client.
Positioning–Exaggerating the severity of a symptom. Gives permission for the client to change and the therapist is “taking the client’s side)
Reframing–Relabeling a symptom to give it a more positive meaning. Helping to see the situation from a different perspective
Key points about paradoxical interventions:
Counterintuitive:
The intervention goes against the typical approach to solving a problem, often asking the client to do the opposite of what they think they should do.Â
Requires careful consideration:
These interventions should only be used by trained professionals, as they can be counterproductive if not implemented correctly.Â
Can promote self-awareness:
By highlighting the absurdity of the behavior, the client may gain a new perspective on their issue and find ways to manage it more effectively.
Come back later this week for a question related to paradoxical interventions!