The Problem Is Not You: How Externalizing Issues in Therapy Can Lead to Profound Growth
Description
In this episode, we’re hosting Michael Towers, a psychotherapist with 15 years of experience who advocates for a non-pathologizing approach to therapy. Michael explains how this perspective differs from traditional medical model-based therapy by focusing on the problem as separate from the client, rather than pathologizing behaviors. We also touch on the challenges of implementing this approach within current regulatory systems and the potential for AI to assist in generating non-pathologizing narrative letters.
Chapters:
(01:43 ) Non-pathologizing therapy embraces the intrinsic worth of the client and externalizes the problem from them.
(09:56 ) Instead of judging client behaviors, non-pathologizing therapists view them as external control mechanisms to create safety.
(15:08 ) The goal is to move psychotherapy away from the medical model entirely, applying non-pathologizing as a perspective rather than a modality.
(30:18 ) Narrative letters serve as case notes, empowering clients by giving them immediate access to session records and allowing for collaboration.
(37:46 ) AI tools could potentially help therapists generate non-pathologizing narrative letters more efficiently, making the practice more accessible.
United States
