This purpose of this paper is to critically review the theory and practice of SocioDynamic Counselling: an applied constructivist approach for professionals in the helping field. The paper is divided into two sections. Firstly, identifying the founder to this approach then further expanding over the theoretical and philosophical key concepts that support SocioDynamic counselling. The second half of the paper explores and analyses strengths and outcome limitations of this helping approach.
SocioDynamic counselling is a Canadian counselling approach invented and constructed by Dr R. Vance Peavy. Peavy was a Canadian Professor Emeritus and an international leader in the counselling profession (Larsen, 2004, p. 177). Peavy coined and applied a …show more content…
SocioDynamic counselling is solution focused, it is participatory based, constructive and a creative learning process (Shepard, 2005, p. 465), the practice is very similar to ‘art therapy’ or ‘narrative therapy’ therapy. It applies and incorporates multiple concepts from various disciplines including philosophy, theories of learning, sociology, cultural studies, psychology, linguistics, feminist theory, and economics (Peavy, 2000, p. 3). Applications of SocioDynamic counselling can be applied transversely across the following five sectors: Education and Career seeking opportunities; Relational/Personal life experiences; Spirituality and body/health seeking situations and recreational goals (Peavy, 2000, p. 19). Preliminary findings from a 2006 study conducted in a ‘real world’ clinical setting revealed positive outcomes with some participants commenting that the exercise offered ‘a valuable way to access the changes that had occurred to them over the duration of counselling, and afterwards’ (Rodgers, 2006, p. 229). Further, preliminary feedback from participants in Rogers 2006 study remarked that the therapeutic experience itself, through creative mapping of a life space map was the most beneficial aspect of their counselling experience (Rodgers, 2006, p. …show more content…
SocioDynamic counselling methods are a co-operative activity where counsellors and help seekers are ‘the players, the moves are the functions and methods like mapping are tools that the counsellor uses to accomplish moves’ (Shepard, 2005, p. 466). If the service user is introverted, this approach is less likely, if at all to be effective. Furthermore, service users seeking or expecting a traditional and authoritarian standpoint from traditionally structured assessments will be dissatisfied with this style of helping practice. In addition, the process appears time consuming, some individual stories will take longer to reveal themselves and SocioDynamic Counselling is not a streamlined, quick fix practice for both the helper and the help seeking user. Each help seekers approach and sharing of narratives is unique and therefore will be revealed in different ways influenced by their lived experiences and cultural history and how each story is retold may not follow western linear structure with a beginning, middle and end and appreciating such an organic narrative shapes the flow of the therapy. As a final point, the lack of structure may prevent some counsellors from adopting this approach as the unstructured methods may be overwhelming when compared against traditional counselling approaches that are
SocioDynamic counselling is a Canadian counselling approach invented and constructed by Dr R. Vance Peavy. Peavy was a Canadian Professor Emeritus and an international leader in the counselling profession (Larsen, 2004, p. 177). Peavy coined and applied a …show more content…
SocioDynamic counselling is solution focused, it is participatory based, constructive and a creative learning process (Shepard, 2005, p. 465), the practice is very similar to ‘art therapy’ or ‘narrative therapy’ therapy. It applies and incorporates multiple concepts from various disciplines including philosophy, theories of learning, sociology, cultural studies, psychology, linguistics, feminist theory, and economics (Peavy, 2000, p. 3). Applications of SocioDynamic counselling can be applied transversely across the following five sectors: Education and Career seeking opportunities; Relational/Personal life experiences; Spirituality and body/health seeking situations and recreational goals (Peavy, 2000, p. 19). Preliminary findings from a 2006 study conducted in a ‘real world’ clinical setting revealed positive outcomes with some participants commenting that the exercise offered ‘a valuable way to access the changes that had occurred to them over the duration of counselling, and afterwards’ (Rodgers, 2006, p. 229). Further, preliminary feedback from participants in Rogers 2006 study remarked that the therapeutic experience itself, through creative mapping of a life space map was the most beneficial aspect of their counselling experience (Rodgers, 2006, p. …show more content…
SocioDynamic counselling methods are a co-operative activity where counsellors and help seekers are ‘the players, the moves are the functions and methods like mapping are tools that the counsellor uses to accomplish moves’ (Shepard, 2005, p. 466). If the service user is introverted, this approach is less likely, if at all to be effective. Furthermore, service users seeking or expecting a traditional and authoritarian standpoint from traditionally structured assessments will be dissatisfied with this style of helping practice. In addition, the process appears time consuming, some individual stories will take longer to reveal themselves and SocioDynamic Counselling is not a streamlined, quick fix practice for both the helper and the help seeking user. Each help seekers approach and sharing of narratives is unique and therefore will be revealed in different ways influenced by their lived experiences and cultural history and how each story is retold may not follow western linear structure with a beginning, middle and end and appreciating such an organic narrative shapes the flow of the therapy. As a final point, the lack of structure may prevent some counsellors from adopting this approach as the unstructured methods may be overwhelming when compared against traditional counselling approaches that are