Understanding the Method of Levels (MOL) Psychotherapy

When exploring psychotherapy methods, you might come across the Method of Levels (MOL). MOL is distinctly different from traditional therapeutic approaches, offering a unique perspective based on Perceptual Control Theory (PCT). Understanding the underlying 'why' of MOL is crucial for therapists and individuals seeking effective, meaningful change.

Why MOL Stands Apart

Traditional psychotherapies tend to emphasise structured techniques like cognitive restructuring or relaxation. In contrast, MOL suggests something fundamentally different: individuals naturally have the ability to resolve psychological distress. MOL therapists don't attempt to fix clients through external interventions; instead, they guide clients to tap into their own self-regulating capacities. Recognising this shift in perspective is key to enhancing effectiveness in therapeutic settings.

Limitations of Traditional Psychotherapy

Despite extensive development, traditional psychotherapy often lacks clarity regarding the precise mechanisms by which psychological change occurs. Several limitations are notable:

• Cognitive therapy classes emphasise restructuring thoughts but rarely explain precisely how dysfunctional thoughts genuinely become functional.

• Behavioural therapist courses focus on altering behaviours without sufficiently addressing underlying psychological processes or internal conflicts.

• Many popular mental health books recommend various strategies without adequately demonstrating the internal mechanics of how these strategies produce change.

In 1994, Professor Robyn Dawes noted that psychotherapy generally works but highlighted a critical issue: widely differing techniques yield similarly effective results, regardless of the therapist's training or credentials. This suggests that something other than specific techniques drives therapeutic improvement.

The Unique Approach of MOL

MOL directly addresses the fundamental processes behind psychological healing, advocating a clear understanding of how change truly happens:

• MOL views psychological problems as disruptions or conflicts in an individual's internal control systems.

• Therapists facilitate the client's natural ability to resolve internal conflicts through increased self-awareness, rather than imposing externally devised solutions.

• The therapist’s main role is gently guiding clients toward awareness of their own inner experiences, thereby promoting self-directed solutions.

Misconceptions about Mental Disorders

Common mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, or schizophrenia, are traditionally presented as fixed, diagnosable conditions. However, MOL challenges this conventional view:

• Conditions like ADHD or depression are essentially behavioural groupings, not distinct organic diseases or disorders.

• Symptoms such as sadness, irritability, or inattentiveness represent internal conflicts or deviations from an individual's preferred internal state, rather than signs of underlying biochemical problems.

• Understanding psychological distress as an internal conflict or imbalance allows more effective, targeted therapeutic interventions.

Practical Insights from MOL

For both therapists and individuals interested in MOL, several practical insights enhance understanding and therapeutic effectiveness:

• Therapeutic improvements aren't primarily due to specific actions like disputing irrational thoughts or practising deep relaxation techniques.

• Building a warm therapeutic relationship certainly helps, yet even this relationship alone doesn't fully explain how or why psychological change occurs.

• Effective therapy, as seen through the MOL lens, involves increasing a client's self-awareness, enabling natural self-adjustment and resolution of internal conflicts.

Why MOL Makes Practical Sense

MOL's effectiveness is grounded in intuitive observations about human nature and psychological processes:

• People instinctively strive for internal control and equilibrium. Like the tale of Goldilocks—seeking things neither too hot nor too cold but "just right"—people continuously adjust their behaviours and experiences towards preferred internal states.

• Psychological issues typically arise when individuals face conflicts between different internal standards or expectations. MOL therapists help clients recognise and address these internal conflicts.

• Rather than imposing external solutions or strategies, MOL leverages individuals' innate ability to self-correct, providing a profoundly empowering experience.

Benefits of Learning and Practising MOL

For therapists, students, or anyone passionate about mental health improvement, delving into MOL—whether through psychology books on mental health, specialised training, or professional courses—offers significant benefits:

• MOL training encourages therapists to trust clients' natural abilities to heal, thereby reducing reliance on overly structured or rigid interventions.

• Clients typically experience therapy as more respectful, collaborative, and empowering, increasing their motivation to engage deeply in the therapeutic process.

• Enhanced self-awareness and internal control improve therapeutic outcomes, leading to faster and more sustainable mental health improvements.

Real-world Applications of MOL

Real-world applications further demonstrate MOL's effectiveness and practicality:

• In treating anxiety, rather than teaching avoidance or purely cognitive strategies, MOL encourages clients to recognise their internal conflicts. Clients learn to navigate these conflicts naturally, reducing anxiety more effectively than conventional avoidance-based methods.

• MOL applied to depression emphasises awareness of internal standards and conflicts, facilitating natural shifts in thinking and behaviour without artificially structured interventions or forced cognitive changes.

• Practitioners often find MOL to be more adaptable and applicable across diverse populations and psychological issues precisely because it respects individuals' unique internal worlds.

How MOL Aligns with Evidence-Based Practice

MOL aligns strongly with evidence-based practice principles, particularly regarding therapeutic outcomes and treatment efficiency:

• Meta-analyses indicate therapy outcomes often hinge less on specific techniques and more on client-driven change processes. MOL explicitly utilises and enhances these natural processes.

• Research suggests improved therapy outcomes when clients actively participate and self-direct their therapy experiences—core aspects of MOL practice.

• Unlike many traditional psychotherapies, MOL explicitly incorporates ongoing feedback from clients' internal experiences, continuously adapting and refining the therapeutic approach based on real-time insights.

Final Thoughts on MOL

Understanding MOL psychotherapy involves more than merely grasping a different therapeutic approach—it requires a fundamental shift in perspective about how psychological change occurs. MOL posits that effective psychotherapy isn't about fixing symptoms from the outside, but about enhancing clients' natural ability to resolve their own internal conflicts.

If you're seeking a therapeutic method deeply grounded in respecting individual autonomy, encouraging genuine self-awareness, and achieving lasting mental wellness, MOL offers a powerful and refreshing alternative. Whether through specialised training, insightful readings, or professional workshops, engaging with MOL can significantly enhance therapeutic effectiveness, personal empowerment, and sustained psychological wellbeing.

Timothy Carey Ph.D., is Chair Country Health Research and Innovation at Curtin University. Previously,