A BPS APPROACH IN

PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

Why would we take this approach?

PSYC 6104 A Biopsychosocial
Approach to Counselling

Maria de Lourdes Desmoctt Flores

Biopsychosocial (BPS)What
Is an integration of biological (bio) + psychological (Psycho) + social
factors. Problems, assessment, intervention, outcomes and
prevention in counselling psychology are an integration of this
factors. (Dr. Barb Bryden)

The BPS approach is a comprehensive, integrative framework for

understanding human development, health and functioning. (13)

is it?

THE BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL IS A BROAD VIEW THAT ATTRIBUTES DISEASE

OUTCOME TO THE INTRICATE VARIABLE INTERACTION OF: (15)

Biological factors

Psychological factors

Social factors

Genetics

Mood

Cultural

biochemical

Personality

Familial

behaviour

Socioeconomic

medical

HISTORY
In 1977, Psychiatrist George L. Engel, called for
The need for a new medical model, he argued
that medicine in general and psychiatry in
particular ought to shift from a bio-medical
perspective of disease to a biopsychosocial (BPS)
perspective on health.
He argued that the bio-medical perspective was
too reductionistic and that a holistic perspective
grounded in general systems theory was
necessary to address health related issues.
The World Health Organization seems to agree
with Engles view in that it defines its central
mission as providing well-being which is defined
as an overall state of health and happiness. (10)

This is a
new
medical
paradigm
!

DESCRIPTION OF THE MODEL

Some thinkers see the model in terms of causation.

Psychological
causes for a
health
problem such
as lack of selfcontrol

Biological component
seeks to understand
how the cause of the
illness steams from the
functioning of the
individuals body

The best known approach to

conceptualizing the prioritization
of human needs is Maslows
(1943)Hierarchy of needs model.
He considered the four lowest
levels of needs to be deficiency
needs, only when they are met
can the individual move up to the
hierarchy and establish new
priorities for personal growth. (13)

Maslows model is widely considered useful for categorizing different

types of needs and arranging their priority. Especially when patients
have limited insight into the nature and interrelationship of their
problems, it can be very helpful for patients and therapist to use it for
conceptualizing the relationships among their problems, needs,
resources and strengths.

SIMILARITIES/DIFFERENCES?

DIFFERENCES OR SIMILARITIES

The Biopsychosocial concept

around 1950s: Roy Grinker.
He discounted a unified
field theory for psychiatry,
and rejected
biopsychosocial-like holism
for research where
specificity is needed.(4)

Karl Jaspers.- called for

methodological
consciousness: we need to
be aware of what methods
we use, their strengths and
limitations, and why we use
them. (8)

William Osler, argued that

the physicians role was to
treat disease in the body
(biomedical reductionism),
while attending to the
human being, the person,
who has the disease. (8)

And Then?

THE BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL CALLS FOR EXPANDING THE NUMBER

AND TYPES OF HABITS TO BE CONSCIOUSLY LEARNED AND OBJECTTIVELY MONITORED TO MAINTAIN THE CENTRALITY OF THE PATIENT.
THE PHYSICIAN IS IN SOME WAYS LIKE A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE
CALIBRATED, TUNED, AND ADJUSTED TO PERFORM ADEQUATELY, THEIR SKILLS SHOULD BE
JUDGE ON THEIR ABILITY TO PRODUCE GREATER HEALTH OR TO RELIEVE THE PATIENTS
SUFFERING, WHETHER THEY INCLUDE CREATING AN ADEQUATE EMOTIONAL TONE,
GATHERING AN ACCURATE HISTORY, OR DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN WHAT THE PATIENT
NEEDS AND WHAT THE PATIENT SAYS HE OR SHE WANTS.(1), (6)

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Creating Trust: Cordiality, optimism, genuineness

and good humor.

Cultivating Curiosity: Emotional tone is an empathic

curiosity.

Recognizing Bias: Clinicians should learn how their

decisions might be biased by the race and sex of
the patient among other factors.

Educating the Emotions: Tolerance of uncertainty.

Using Informed Intuition: The role of intuition is

central.

Communicating Clinical Evidence: Evidence should

be communicated in terms the patient can
understand.

WHY THIS APPROACH?

One of the challenges of effective and meaningful
communication in this context is being mindful of our
similarities and differences. Awareness of differences
can help to overcome communication challenges
within our own field as well as when we seek to
communicate and collaborate with our colleagues in
other medical disciplines. (12)
To some of us it is obvious that biological,
psychological and social factors are in reality
intergraded.
Psychological and Social phenomena are mediated by
the brain.
Mentalizing includes self-awareness, knowing what you
are feeling is a pre-requisite for intentional emotion
self-regulation.

THE BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL PRESUMES THAT IS IMPORTANT TO HANDLE THE THREE

TOGETHER AS A GROWING BODY OR EMPIRICAL LITERATURE , SUGGEST THAT PATIENT
PERCEPTIONS OF HEALTH AND THREAT OF DISEASE AS WELL AS BARRIERS IN A PATIENTS
SOCIAL OR CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT APPEAR TO INFLUENCE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT A
PATIENT WILL ENGAGE IN HEALTH-PROMOTING OR TREATMENT BEHAVIOURS, SUCH AS
MEDICATION TAKING, PROPER DIET OR NUTRITION, AND ENGAGING IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. (2)

APPLY IT TO YOURSELF BEFORE OTHERS!!!

You can get a masters degree in anything you want, but where do you go to study
yourself?, you are the one subject that if comprehended on a Masters level, has
the greatest potential to affect your long-term happiness and success.
Imagine the confidence you will feel when you finally know who you are, what you
want and why.
WHO I
AM

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SELF-AWARE?

Having self
knowledge
About your strengths and
weaknesses

Get to know

Emotional reactions

Your fears and passions

What you want and why

Likes and dislikes

Beliefs about yourself, life and

god

SET PARAMETERS BY THE WORLD HEALTH

ORGANIZATION

Physical.- Eating healthy, drink plenty of water, exercise, sleep well.

Intellectual.- Set realistic goals, explore opportunity with open mind,
have a positive outlook.

Emotional.-

Awareness and acceptance, ability to handle stress and

seek help if need it, build strong communication networks.

Social.-

Improve the ability to interact with people, accept and

understand diverse, adopt a positive self-image, enhance interpersonal
communication skills.

Spiritual.-

Its a matter of looking inwards to understand the meaning of

our existence.

Life as we know is a puzzle: health

dimensions are separate pieces that need to
be fitted together to understand its meaning.
Though we all seek a harmonious balance
between the mind, body, and spirit to lead an
optimal fulfilled life, its rarely attained in
totally.
Our own feelings of weakness and nonacceptance of lifes events causes distress in
our daily life.(11)

CONCLUSION
After all of this I can conclude that the Biopsychosocial approach
is ideally suited to cope with the increasing complexities of the
clinical sciences, because it focus its attention in different areas
engaging the persons three most important aspects: Biological,
Psychological and Sociocultural, to reach what most important
is.. HEALTH!!!

After all this being said do you agree or disagree with

me?, what do you think?

KIND
REMINDER!!
Slow yourself
down and speed
yourself up (Dan
Gallagher)

REFERENCES:
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9.-

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