GRIMES DIALECTICAL RATIONAL PSYCHOTHERAPY(GDRP)
and
ITS PARENT PHILOSOPHICAL MIDWIFERY(PM)
by
Regina L. Uliana, Ph.D.
The following is, in part, excerpts from
the Chapter Comparing PM/GDRP and
Cognitive Psychotherapies Systems and
from the chapter on the Stages of the
Dialectic.
Grimes Dialectical Rational Psychotherapy (GDRP) is the
clinical application of the principles of philosophical midwifery and
belongs
to the class of cognitive psychotherapy since it is a rational psychotherapy.
As with its parent, Philosophical Midwifery, GDRP
assumes the cause of problems and dysfunctional behavior is the acceptance
of false beliefs about oneself and reality. These false beliefs go
undetected until they manifest themselves as blocks and obstacles to our
most personally meaningful goals. These false beliefs are called the
pathologos.
Grimes has adapted the Socratic dialectic and applied it for the
purpose of identifying and exploring the nature, origin and necessity of
this class of belief called the pathologos. This form of dialogue is
called a midwifery for it is through the dialectic method where the order
of the questions are designed in such a way that the subject can anticipate
their direction and assist in the delivery of his problem. Grimes points
out that the stages of the dialectic are not mechanically applied but
function as a map or basic design which can be adapted to meet the
particular needs of the subject. By following the method then the
philosophical midwife does not need to interpret, advise or teach, for
through following the method itself information is brought forth for the
subject to review. Once the data is revealed then another level of
questions in the stages of the dialectic functions to aid the subject to
puzzle out the meaning of and the answers to his problem. Of course this
type of dialogue presupposes that subjects are open and willing to such
joint explorations into the blocks they encounter as they pursue their most
meaningful goals.
A distinction then between PM and GDRP is that PM serves those who
can state their problems that block them from their personally meaningful
goals. Where as GDRP serves those persons who cannot set goals, state
their problem or admit they have a problem and or whose levels of anxiety
preclude them from entering into PM. GDRP also serves those with specific
mental-behavioral disorders.
We can describe those receiving the benefits of PM or GDRP as
follows:
In PM dialogues the participants are called
Philosophical Midwife and Pregnant Person.
In GDRP sessions the participants are called
Psychotherapist : Patient
We have found that GDRP-trained psychotherapist may need to educate
the patient in stating their goals and problems.
******************
The mark of GDRP as a rational psychotherapy, as well as the
hallmark of Platonic thought in philosophy, is the assumption that reason
(understanding) and the testing of understanding in one's own experience is
sufficient to free oneself from the false beliefs that produce
irrationality.
The idea of a rational psychotherapy is thought by many to be a
contradiction in terms. It is believed that a rational psychotherapy would
be, in principle, incapable of reaching fundamental levels of thinking and
emotions, or of being empirically verified because traditionally speaking
it is claimed that rationalism or a rational psychotherapy would transcend
immediate experience.
In the book, Philosophical Midwifery...., we present the results
of a study we designed to challenge these beliefs. The analysis of our
results showed that major elements of the theory of PM/GDRP are testable,
and by following its prescribed cognitive method, it uncovers the
pathologos and surfaces emotionalized behavior associated with one's
fundamental beliefs. Further, we found that PM/GDRP is prescriptive and
has the capacity for verification and evaluation without requiring external
diagnostic criteria such as DSM IIIR, (or DSM-IV). And still further we
showed that this rational cognitive method is capable of eliciting
significant levels of emotionalized behavior. Thus, the long held belief
that a rational psychotherapy is, in principle, incapable of either being
empirically verified or of affecting emotionalized behavior is rejected.
****************
Dr. Uliana functions both as a philosophical midwife and
psychotherapist. She has applied PM/GDRP principles to a number of
problems including blocks to success, attitudes and stress and addictive
behaviors, She has written about GDRP as way to understand the chronic
problem of recidivism. She presents workshops and training seminars on
the use of PM/GDRP for various professional organizations.
Email Dr. Uliana at:
philomidwifegdrp@hotmail.com