Cognitive Psychotherapy and Postmodernism: Emerging Themes and Challenges

Implications of postmodern thought for the theory and practice of cognitive psychotherapy are examined in light of three postmodern influences—social constructionism, feminism, and multiculturalism. It is suggested that these influences challenge cognitive psychotherapists to (a) develop a greater appreciation for the ways in which human realities are socially negotiated, (b) provide more contextualized accounts of psychological problems, particularly with regard to the dimensions of gender, culture, and economic class, and (c) incorporate client empowerment strategies into their models of change.