Intro to Psychology: Types of Therapy

Psychotherapy

A therapeutic treatment involving psychological techniques. Refers to a variety of treatments that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Most psychotherapy takes place when a licensed mental health professional and a patient meet one-on-one or with other patients in a group setting. One of the two main categories of modern western therapy.

Psychoanalysis

A system of psychological theory and therapy that aims to treat mental health conditions by investigating the interaction of conscious and unconscious elements in the mind. Also involves bringing up repressed fears and conflicts into the conscious mind by techniques such as dream interpretation and free association. The first major psychological therapy, developed by Sigmund Freud. Rarely practiced today.

Psychodynamic Therapy

A type of therapy that derives from psychoanalysis traditions. This therapy focuses on the unconscious processes as they are manifested in the client’s behavior. Views individuals as responding to unconscious forces and childhood experiences. Seeks to enhance self-insight/awareness and an understanding of how the past influences present behavior.

Humanistic Psychology

A movement in psychology that supports the belief that humans, as individuals, are unique beings and should be recognized as such by clinicians. This therapy emphasizes personal growth in the direction of becoming who you want to be.

Client-Centered Therapy

An approach to psychotherapy that is based on a belief that the client is best able to determine what they and the clinician should explore and how.

Behavioral Therapy

An umbrella term used to describe a broad range of therapeutic techniques utilized to change maladaptive behaviors. The goal of this therapy is to reinforce desirable behaviors and eliminate those that are unwanted. Therapists of this type assume that these behaviors have been learned, therefore, they can be unlearned.

Exposure Therapy

A type of therapy that encourages the systematic confrontation of feared/avoided stimuli, which can be internal or external. The aim of these procedures is to reduce one’s fearful reaction to a stimulus. (positive response → harmless stimuli)

Aversion Therapy

This therapy is a type of counterconditioning that associates an unpleasant state/effect with an unwanted behavior/habit. (negative response → harmful stimuli)

Cognitive Therapy

A subsect of therapy that teaches clients new and more adaptive ways of thinking, based on the assumption that thoughts intervene between events and our emotional reactions.

Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)

A confrontational cognitive therapy approach that vigorously challenges one’s illogical, self-defeating attitudes and assumptions. Seeks to aid the client by pointing out the absurdities of their beliefs in an effort to eliminate them.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This is a popular psychological therapy that combines cognitive therapy (alteration of self-defeating thinking) with behavioral therapy (changing behaviors). Essentially, the goal of this therapy is to change the way people think in a positive way, but to give them actions that reinforce these ideas.

Group Therapy

A therapy conducted with a group rather than just the individual and the clinician. Provides benefits from group interactions.

Family Therapy

This counseling type that treats people in the context of their family system. It views an individual’s unwanted behaviors as influenced by or directed at members of the family.

Biomedical Therapy

A therapeutic treatment involving medications or procedures to treat psychological disorders.

Psychopharmacology

The study of the effects drugs have on one’s mind and behavior.