Phenomenology of Non-Ordinary Logics in Brief Strategic Therapy

Brief Strategic Therapy (BST) is a psychosocial treatment for mental disorders based on a unique theory of psychological dysfunction that differs from major psychotherapy approaches in that psychological dysfunction follows non-ordinary logics rather than classic logical principles. BST contends that there are three different kinds of non-ordinary logics that underpin psychological dysfunction: the logic of contradiction, the logic of paradox, and the logic of belief. BST therapeutic strategies are based on these non-ordinary logics processes. Unfortunately, descriptions and case examples of these non-ordinary logics are scattered among a myriad of books so that it is difficult for the clinician to get acquainted with them. Additionally, BST literature has described these non-ordinary logics with a somewhat obscure and metaphorical language that might be difficult for the clinician to grasp. Herein, we condensate descriptions and case examples of the three non-ordinary logics, clarify the phenomenological processes of each of the classes of non-ordinary logics, and highlight research findings from different theoretical orientations that are coherent and consistent with our phenomenological accounts of non-ordinary logics. Based on our clinical observations, non-ordinary logics can be distinguished by three variables: (a) the immediate effect of the dysfunctional attempted solution (DAS), (b) the long-term effect of the DAS, and (c) the most salient mental phenomenon associated with the DAS that maintains a psychological problem. This advancement could foster clinicians' ability to identify non-ordinary logics and their ability to devise appropriate strategies to solve psychological problems.