Therapies•Insight Therapies•Relationship Therapies•Behavior Therapies•Cognitive Therapies•Biological Therapies •Evaluating the Therapies•Culture- and Gender- Sensitive Therapies

Why Seek Therapy?

Approaches to Therapy

Therapy Nature of Psycho-pathology

Goal ofTherapy

Psycho-analytic

Humanistic

Maladjustment reflects inadequate conflict resolution and fixation in early development

Pathology re-flects an incongruity between the real self and the potential, desired self. Overdependence on others for gratification and self-esteem

Attainment of maturity, strengthened ego functions, reduced control by unconscious or repressed impulses.

To foster self-determination, release human potential, expand awareness

Role ofTherapist

An investigator, uncovering conflicts and resistances.

An empathetic person in true encounter with client, sharing experiences.

Role of Unconscious Material

Primary in classical psycho-analysis, less emphasis in ego analysis

Emphasis is primarily on conscious experience

Role ofInsight

Includes not solely intellectual understanding but also emotional experiences

Used by many, but there is more emphasis on how and what questions than on why questions

Techniques

Analyst takes an active role in interpreting the dreams and free associations in patients

Client is asked to see the world from a different perspective and is encouraged to focus on current situations rather than past ones

Approaches to Therapy Continued

Therapy Nature of Psycho-pathology

Goal ofTherapy

Behavior

Cognitive

Symptomatic behavior stems from faulty learning. The symptom is the problem; there is no underlying disease.

Maladjustment occurs because of faulty, irrational thought patterns

To relieve symptomatic behavior by suppressing or replacing maladaptive behaviors

To change the way clients think about themselves and the world

Role ofTherapist

A helper, helping client unlearn old behaviors and learn new ones

A trainer and coinvestig-ator helping the client learn new, rational ways to think about the world and self

Role of Unconscious Material

No concern with unconscious processes

Little or no concern with unconscious processes

Role ofInsight

Irrelevant and unnecessary

Irrelevant, but may be used if it does occur

Techniques

Clients learn new responses; purpose is to establish new behaviors and eliminate faulty or undesirable ones

Clients learn to think situations thorough logically and to reconsider many of their irrational assumptions

Psychoanalysis

Insight Therapies

Humanistic therapyGoal is self-actualization. Person-centered therapy (non-directive therapy)

Gestalt therapyEmphasizes experiencing feelings, thoughts, and

actions and then taking responsibility for them.Directive therapy

Relationship Therapies

Interpersonal therapy (IPT)Community PsychotherapyCouple and family therapyGroup therapy

Self-help groupPsychodrama

Behavior Therapies

Based on Operant Conditioning:Behavior modificationToken economies

Based on Classical Conditioning:Systematic desensitizationFloodingExposure and Response preventionAversion therapyParticipant-Modeling

Cognitive Therapies

Rational Emotive Therapy

Beck’s Cognitive Therapy

The ABCs of Rational-Emotive Therapy

Harry asked Sally to the concert and was

turned down without a reason

IRRATIONAL BELIEFS“It’s terrible if I get turned down.”

“I’m humiliated.”

RATIONAL BELIEFS“If she doesn’t want to go out

with me, I will take someone else. It’s too bad, but that’s life.”

Harry was shocked, dejected, angry, and depressed.

EMOTIONAL DISTRESSHarry was shocked,

dejected, angry, and depressed.

EMOTIONAL CONSEQUENCE

Harry is somewhat annoyed and disappointed but is looking forward to

the concert anyway.

A causes C

C (Consequence)

C (Consequence)

C (Consequence)

A (Activating Event)

Harry asked Sally to the concert and was

turned down without a reason

A (Activating Event)

Harry believes Sally’s refusal caused his upset.

B (Belief about event)

B (Belief about event)

Beck’s Cognitive Therapy

Illogical Ideas

E.g., tendency to overgeneralize setbacks

E.g., tendency to explain away positive outcomes or experiences

E.g., tendency to magnify the importance of negative events

Negativeaffect

Beck’s Therapy focuses on changing this kind of thinking

Negative thoughts, memories, and ideas

Depression

Biological Therapies

Drug TherapyAntipsychotic drugsAntidepressant drugsLithium

Electroconvulsive shock therapy (ECT)Psychosurgery

Dopamine

SSRI’s

Other Considerations in Therapy

Training of therapist Cultural Sensitivity of

therapist Gender of therapist

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