Progressive Social Change Perspectives and Therapy: Mapping the Interfaces : Part 1 From Progressive Social Change Perspectives to Therapy

The pluralistic approach to therapy is grounded in principles of progressive social
change. This paper is the first part of a review that maps the interfaces between
progressive social change perspectives and therapy. This first part introduces the
review and focuses on the contribution of the former to the latter. Building on
previous maps by Totton and Sanders, the aim is to develop a comprehensive,
integrated framework for understanding these interfaces: stimulating further
writing, research, and practice. A systematic search of two key journals and
related literature was conducted, resulting in the construction of seven main
domains, several of which were further divided into sub-domains. Domains and
sub-domains for the first part of this framework are: the existence of therapy-asa-whole, therapeutic practice (subdomains: understanding clients and
formulation, therapists’ self-understandings, the therapeutic relationship,
methods and techniques, therapeutic interventions), supervision, training
(subdomains: curricula, process, access), research (subdomains: topics,
methodology), access to therapy, and the therapy profession. Literature and
practices in each of these areas is described and illustrated. This paper also
considers key traditions of progressive social change thought and action in the
therapy field and discusses the challenges of mapping these interfaces. By
bringing together a wide range of literature and traditions, this paper supports
pluralistic therapists, and others with a progressive social change perspective, to
reflect on, and develop, the social justice elements of their thought and practice.
Part 2 of this review, to be published, will look at the contribution of therapy to
progressive social change perspectives, and integrated psycho-political
approaches