Glossary / Lexicon

Ecological Psychotherapy refers to a model for assessment, problem formulation, and treatment planning which focuses on the Development of the personal niche in which the individual can exp erience interpersonal effectiveness. It is a viewpoint rather than a technique, a way of noticing, of using professional vision to encompass the client's complex reality. Ecological psychotherapy seeks to understand behavior not only as a function of the person or of environmental conditions but as a function of their reciprocal interaction. Thus, the aim of ecologically oriented therapy is to support individuals in the creation of an environment in which their developmental potential can be realized. This approach, consistent with counseling traditions, has general utility in mental health counseling practice and may be particularly useful with traditionally underserved populations. (