Eclectic Theoretical Orientation
Eclectic Theoretical Orientation
An orientation that does not follow any one theoretical approach but rather selects from each theory whatever is considered the best in it.
There are many forms of eclecticism but it is not really important to know or understand the differences between them all. Psychologists and therapists use a pragmatic approach to therapy, meshing all of the above approaches together to fit the individualistic human being that sits before them for the first time with their particular problem.
Unfortunately, since it is based upon individualism and pragmatism, many people confuse it with confusion itself. Good eclecticism is neither messy nor confused. For example, a typical eclectic approach in therapy is to view an individual from a psychodynamic perspective, but to use more active interventions, such as one might find it in a cognitive-behavioral approach. That is eclecticism.
Most forms of this therapy are much more subtle and less distinct than that. For instance, some tend to view individuals who come into their office as much as through the patient's own eyes as possible, imagining their worldview and the system that goes to make up their problems. Some look at things not only from what might be reinforcing unhealthy behaviors (behaviorism), but also unhealthy thoughts (cognitive), and how these all relate together to go and make up the individual human being sitting in front of me (humanistic). In eclecticism, there is no one right or guaranteed way of approaching any given problem. Each problem is tainted and changed by that individual's own history and way of viewing or perceiving his or her own problem. Therapists are flexible, working as a teacher for one patient, as a guide for another, or as a combination of all of the above for yet another.
Strength of this theory: It Selects features from other theories because it believed that ‘No one theory has all the answers’. Each theory can make a contribution to understanding
An orientation that does not follow any one theoretical approach but rather selects from each theory whatever is considered the best in it.
There are many forms of eclecticism but it is not really important to know or understand the differences between them all. Psychologists and therapists use a pragmatic approach to therapy, meshing all of the above approaches together to fit the individualistic human being that sits before them for the first time with their particular problem.
Unfortunately, since it is based upon individualism and pragmatism, many people confuse it with confusion itself. Good eclecticism is neither messy nor confused. For example, a typical eclectic approach in therapy is to view an individual from a psychodynamic perspective, but to use more active interventions, such as one might find it in a cognitive-behavioral approach. That is eclecticism.
Most forms of this therapy are much more subtle and less distinct than that. For instance, some tend to view individuals who come into their office as much as through the patient's own eyes as possible, imagining their worldview and the system that goes to make up their problems. Some look at things not only from what might be reinforcing unhealthy behaviors (behaviorism), but also unhealthy thoughts (cognitive), and how these all relate together to go and make up the individual human being sitting in front of me (humanistic). In eclecticism, there is no one right or guaranteed way of approaching any given problem. Each problem is tainted and changed by that individual's own history and way of viewing or perceiving his or her own problem. Therapists are flexible, working as a teacher for one patient, as a guide for another, or as a combination of all of the above for yet another.
Strength of this theory: It Selects features from other theories because it believed that ‘No one theory has all the answers’. Each theory can make a contribution to understanding