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Cultural Semiotic Model for Psychotherapy

Authors:
María Elisa Molina at Universidad del Desarrollo
María Elisa Molina
Raffaele De Luca Picione at Università Telematica "Giustino Fortunato"
Raffaele De Luca Picione
Maria teresa del rio at Central University of Chile
Maria teresa del rio
Linus Paul Frederic Günther at University of Bayreuth Germany
Linus Paul Frederic Günther
  • University of Bayreuth Germany
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Abstract and Figures

Psychotherapy, as a cultural activity, faces the challenge of adapting to historical changes and emerging issues. In this article, a multilevel approach to psychotherapeutic intervention that encompasses the individual, relational, and contextual dimensions is proposed. The approach is based on an historical-cultural theoretical framework that integrates constructivist, systemic, and semiotic components to broaden perspectives for psychotherapy. The primary purpose is to integrate concepts derived from cultural psychology to structure ideas related to the theoretical understanding of intervention. A conceptual elaboration is presented to address the extension of the mind into the social and cultural contexts in continuous exchange between the self and others, as an essential vital process. First, the central concepts of semiosis, development, temporality, and dialogicality are presented as theoretical principles that guide this approach. The article elaborates on the cultural semiotic model as a framework to guide therapists’ understanding of the issues prompting individuals to seek psychological consultation and change, proposing therapeutic aims, conceptual tools for intervention, and strategies for building the therapeutic relationship. The relevance of this theoretical proposal for psychotherapy, as cultural mediation cuts across individual, relational, and contextual levels, is discussed.
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Vol.:(0123456789)
Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science (2025) 59:32
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12124-025-09891-x
Cultural Semiotic Model forPsychotherapy
MaríaElisaMolina1 · RaaeleDeLucaPicione2 · MaríaTeresadelRio3 ·
LinusP.F.Guenther4 · AugustoMellado3 · PabloFossa1
Accepted: 14 January 2025 / Published online: 20 February 2025
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
2025
Abstract
Psychotherapy, as a cultural activity, faces the challenge of adapting to historical
changes and emerging issues. In this article, a multilevel approach to psychother-
apeutic intervention that encompasses the individual, relational, and contextual
dimensions is proposed. The approach is based on an historical-cultural theoreti-
cal framework that integrates constructivist, systemic, and semiotic components to
broaden perspectives for psychotherapy. The primary purpose is to integrate con-
cepts derived from cultural psychology to structure ideas related to the theoretical
understanding of intervention. A conceptual elaboration is presented to address the
extension of the mind into the social and cultural contexts in continuous exchange
between the self and others, as an essential vital process. First, the central concepts
of semiosis, development, temporality, and dialogicality are presented as theoretical
principles that guide this approach. The article elaborates on the cultural semiotic
model as a framework to guide therapists’ understanding of the issues prompting
individuals to seek psychological consultation and change, proposing therapeutic
aims, conceptual tools for intervention, and strategies for building the therapeutic
relationship. The relevance of this theoretical proposal for psychotherapy, as cultural
mediation cuts across individual, relational, and contextual levels, is discussed.
Keywords Psychotherapy· Cultural psychology· Semiotic mediation· Multilevel
intervention
Since its inception, psychotherapy has been the subject of extensive theoretical and
scientific debate regarding the epistemological paradigms adopted, the approaches
taken to understand psychological processes, the explanatory mechanisms applied
to psychological issues, and their transformations in people’s lives. Diverse coex-
isting models, concepts of health and psychopathology, and intervention methods
are organized within a smaller set of foundational conceptual frameworks: psy-
chodynamic models, cognitive-behavioral approaches, transpersonal-humanistic
Extended author information available on the last page of the article
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
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