Universalization

Universalization

In social work practice and psychotherapy, universalization is a supportive intervention utilized by the therapist to reassure and encourage his/her client. Universalization places the client’s experience in the context of other individuals who are experiencing the same, or similar challenges, and seeks to help the client grasp that his/her feelings and experiences are not uncommon given the circumstances. The therapist or social worker utilizing this supportive intervention intends to “normalize” the client’s experience of his/her emotions and reactions to the presenting challenge. By normalizing the client’s experience the therapist is attempting to help avert the client’s natural feelings of “being alone”, or that “no one understands me”.

For example, a therapist working with a twenty one year old client who is experiencing rejection from her family and friends after admitting that she is a lesbian will use universalization. The therapist will explain that many other young adults who have revealed their sexual orientation undergo the same rejection and scrutiny from peers and parents. The therapist will follow this up by telling her that her emotional response to the rejection is likewise normal and not at all uncommon given the circumstances.

References

*Mattaini, M.A., Lowery C.T., & Meyer C.H. (Eds.) (1998). The Foundations of Social Work Practice (2nd ed.). Washington D.C.: NASW Press.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • universalization of players — žaidėjų universalizavimas statusas T sritis Kūno kultūra ir sportas apibrėžtis Jaunų žaidėjų mokymas ir pratinimas atlikti įvairias funkcijas komandoje; būtina sportinio rengimo ir specializacijos priemonė. atitikmenys: angl. universalization of… …   Sporto terminų žodynas

  • universalization — noun see universalize …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • universalization — See universalize. * * * …   Universalium

  • universalization — noun The act or process of universalizing …   Wiktionary

  • universalization — n. process of making something universal, act of giving something universal characteristics …   English contemporary dictionary

  • universalization — uni·ver·sal·ization …   English syllables

  • universalization — ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷sələ̇ˈzāshən, əˌlīˈz noun ( s) : the quality or state of being universalized …   Useful english dictionary

  • universalize — universalization, n. universalizer, n. /yooh neuh verr seuh luyz /, v.t., universalized, universalizing. to make universal. Also, esp. Brit., universalise. [1635 45; UNIVERSAL + IZE] * * * …   Universalium

  • Kant’s moral and political philosophy — Don Becker Practical philosophy, for Kant, is concerned with how one ought to act. His first important work in practical philosophy, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, provides Kant’s argument for the fundamental principle of how one ought …   History of philosophy

  • Discourse ethics — Discourse ethics, sometimes called argumentation ethics, refers to a type of argument that attempts to establish normative or ethical truths by examining the presuppositions of discourse. Contents 1 Habermas and Apel 1.1 Presupposition 1.2… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”