The effece of the Paradoxical Approach in the correctional counselling

Abstract

We have two purposes in producing our research. The first purpose is to find out the appropriate way of introducing Paradoxical Approach (PA) to the correctional institutions. The other is to test the effect of the PA in the correctional treatment. We have adapted the empirical way of studying our. There were several cases of PA in which we analized sequentially the process of clients’ changing their problem solving patterns.

From our research we have found six basic models of clients’ reforming their problem solving patterns. These six models show how clients changed their former problem solving patterns to new ones. Their diaries and behavior observations show that these changes have rooted down in their mind.

We have come up with five conclusions. 1) Paradoxical intervention has shaken the behavior of the clients in using their former solutions (pseudo-solutions), and brings out some protective behaviors (silence, smiling, and so on) and mental reaction (confusion, dilemma, and doubts about the authenticity in their problem solving). 2) After overcoming this double bind stage (bound with pseudo-solutions as well as new solutions), clients chose new problem solving patterns and show spontaneous reaction with will to change. 3) counselors should pay attention to the context conveyed in the clients’ pseudo-solution patterns. Intervening this context by conveying PA makes clients’ patterns change and helps clients move out from the vicious circle. 4) Our research shows that we can use PA in juvenile prisons and get good results. 5) The basic philosophy of PA satisfies the condition of the counselling approach in corrective institutions. We are sure that we will get effective results by using PA in the correctional counselling.