Some Considerations Regarding the Use of Pardoxical Interventions.

This paper discusses paradoxical interventions, considering some of the structural variations among paradoxical techniques found in the treatment literature and in general, and highlighting clinical and ethical issues that are pertinent to the application of paradoxical techniques. The structuring of the theraputic paradox is discussed including the use of rationales, defined as verbal statements that conceptually link the impending directive to the overall goal of theraputic change. Categories of rationales, i.e., those that emphasize additional data gathering, and those that redefine the problem, are described and illustrated in case examples. The second component of the theraputic paradox, the directive, is described and its use is illustrated in a marital counseling situation. The follow up to the paradox, or handling client comments about the change process, is discussed along with specific suggestions for this phase of the process. Ethical considerations in the use of paradox, especially with psychotically disorganized clients, are summarized in a final section. (MCF)