Categorial-system approach to metaphorical association cards therapy

The relevance of the study is due to the need to address the issues of substantiation of therapy with metaphorical associative cards (hereinafter referred to as MACtherapy). MAС-therapy in recent years has become widely used in the psychological practices of counseling. The purpose of the article is the theoretical substantiation of MAC-therapy by relying on the categorical-systemic methodology using the categorical pendulum method. Materials and methods. In the course of the study, reliance is placed on a categorical-system methodology and a categorical approach, therefore, psychological categories act as materials. Along with the general theoretical methods of analysis and synthesis, the categorical pendulum method was used to build a systemic model of MAC therapy. Research results. In the course of the study, variants of qualitative states (system, process, activity) and methodological components of I MAC-therapy (object, subject, goal) were identified. Their brief description is given. A systemic model of MAC-therapy developed by the author is presented. The interaction of the elements of goal-setting MAС-therapy is clearly shown. The description of the presented model is given. Discussion and conclusion. Qualitative states of MAC-therapy (system, process, activity) have individually determined forms of manifestation and unified mechanisms of implementation. As a result of the study we identified differences in the understanding of the methodological components of MAC therapy. The differences are due to the qualitative states of the implementation of MAC therapy. Qualitative states of MACtherapy are: system, process, and activity. The main categories of the categorical and terminological apparatus of MAC-therapy are presented, which include: MAC, group work, individual work, request, client, psychological assistance, self-knowledge, self-development, psychological support, psychological support, therapeutic contact, safety, reflection, personal meaning, metaphor, and association. In addition to the above categories, other, additional categories are actively used in MAC therapy: perception, projection, meaning, narrative, personal meaning, insight, figure, and background. The research materials may be useful to specialists interested in metaphorical associative maps.