Clinical part 2: treatment

psychotherapy

the hundreds of different methods and techniques that have been created to help individuals who have psychological disorders identify and overcome difficulties they are experiencing

Eclectic Approach to Treatment

a treatment approach that combines techniques and interventions from various therapeutic modalities to tailor treatment to a client’s specific needs, preferences, and goals

insight therapies

a category of psychotherapies that focuses on helping individuals uncover the origins of their problems throught increased self-awareness. it includes psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive methods

behavioral therapies

a group of therapies that attempt to control or eliminate undesired symptoms and change maladaptive behavioral patterns by utilizing learning theory methods like classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning

biomedical therapies

treatment methods that attempt to manage the symptoms of mental illness through the use of drugs, psychosurgery, or electrical stimulation

nonmaleficence

the APA ethical guideline for treatment that therapists must commit to avoid harming clients. it emphasizes the importance of considering the potential risks and benefits of interventions and ensuring that the client’s well-being is prioritized

fidelity

the APA ethical guideline for treatment that involves the therapist’s commitment to building trust with clients and upholding professional standards

integrity

the APA ethical guideline for treatment that emphasizes honesty and the importance of keeping promises. it is essential for building trust and credibility with clients

respect for the dignity and worth of individuals

the APA ethical guideline for treatment that involves recognizing and honoring clients’ rights to autonomy self-determination, and confidentiality

psychiatrist

a medical doctor who works with the diagnosis and treatment of psychological illness. they are licensed to prescribe psychotropic medications as part of treatment, but they many also utilize psychotherapy

clinical psychologist

a mental health professional who works with the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. they typically have a doctoral degree such as a Ph.D. or Psy.D. and complete specialized training and stat licensure

counseling psychologist

a mental health professional who works with people coping with everyday problems, including career decisions, marriage counseling, and social skills training (through some do work with individuals who have been diagnosed with psychiatric disorder). the required level of education is determined by state law, but many have doctoral degrees, including Ph.D. or Ed.D. and often work in university clinics

licensed professional counselor

a mental health professional who typically holds a master’s degree in counseling or a related field and focuses on providing therapeutic services for a range of mental health issues, often emphasizing practical solutions and skill-building

social workers

A mental health professional who helps individuals, families, and communities address and manage challenges related to mental health, social functioning, and overall well-being. They provide support through counseling, advocacy, resource connection, and interventions, often working in settings such as schools, hospitals, community organizations, or government agencies to promote social justice and improve quality of life. They typically hold a master's degree.

psychiatric nurse

an individual with an RN degree to specialize in mental health, dispencing medications, and supporting patients and families

interpretation

the process in psychodynamic therapy of analyzing a patient’s free associations, resistances, dreams, and transferences to discover repressed feelings, allowing the patient to gain self-insight

free association

a technique used in psychodynamic therapy in which the patient is asked to speak without any self-censorship about whatever comes to mind to reveal unconscious conflicts

manifest content

in psychodynamic dream analysis, this is the term for the plot or storyline of a dream identified in psychoanalysis

latent content

in psychodynamic dream analysis, this is the term for the hidden and symbolic meaning of a dream

projective tests

assessments used in psychodynamic therapy such as the Rorschach Ink Blot or the TAT that provide ambiguous stimuli designed to trigger unconscious motives or desires

resistance

in psychodynamic therapy, this is the unconscious hesitancy on the client’s part to confront unpleasant or fearful unconscious conflicts or to continue with therapy, generally occuring just before a breakthrough

transference

in psychodynamic therapy, this is the tendency of a patient to react to the therapist emotionally like they did toward their parents or other important figures from childhood

countertransference

in psychodynamic therapy, this is the unconscious (or conscious) reactions of a therapist to the client or the client’s transference, due to the therapist’s own psychological needs and conflicts

psychodynamic therapy

a therapeutic perspective that aims to uncover unconscious conflicts and bring them into conscious awareness to address the root causes of maladaptive symptoms. through this process, patients gain insight into their unresolved issues and learn to confront them rationally

humanistic therapy

a therapeutic perspective that focuses on individuals’ positive capacities and emphasizes self-awareness, free will, and personal responsibility for growth. it is client-driven, prioritizing conscious thoughts and collaboration to foster self-actualization and meaningful connections

nondirective therapy

an aspect of the humanist approach to psychotherapy in which the therapist establishes an encouraging atmosphere and clarifies the client’s ideas rather than controlling or directing the process. the client leads they way by expressing their feelings, defining their issues, and interpreting their behavior

client-centered (person-centered) therapy

a type of humanistic therapy developed by Carl Rogers that employs active listening and unconditional positive regard to discover a path to becoming more mentally healthy

unconditional positive regard

an aspect of humanistic therapy that involves the acceptance of an individual, faults and all, on the part of the therapist

genuineness

an aspect of humanistic therapy that involves being personally authentic and sincere and having awareness about one’s inner thoughts and feelings and the ability to share them honestly with others

empathy

an aspect of humanistic therapy that involves the sensitive understanding and sharing of the inner experience of another

active listening

a communication technique common in humanistic therapy that required listening with total attention to what another is saying. techniques include reflecting, paraphrasing, and clarifying what the person says and means.

exposure therapy

a group if behavioral therapies, often used to treat anxiety disorders, that involve an individual confronting the fear-inducing stimuli safely until they no longer respond negatively. examples include counterconditioning, aversive conditioning, and systematic desensitization

counterconditioning

a type of behavioral exposure therapy based on classical conditioning that replaces unacceptable responses with acceptable ones. this therapy is often used to treat phobias by creating a learned association between the feared objects and something pleasant

systematic desensitization

a type of behavioral exposure therapy used to treat phobias by creating a hierarchy of fears and moving the client through each step in the hierarchy while having the client practice muscle relaxation

in-vivo therapy

a form of systematic desensitization in which the client directly experiences the steps in the anxiety hierarchy, rather than through visualization

aversion therapy/aversive conditioning

a form of behavioral exposure therapy that pairs an aversive (unpleasant) stimulus with a maladaptive behavior to elicit a negative reaction to the target stimulus

virtual reality therapy

a type of in vivo exposure therapy in which clients are active participants in a three-dimensional computer-generated interactive environment that allows them a sense of actual involvement in scenarios related to their presenting problems

behavior modification

a form of behavior therapy techniques that use operant conditioning to end or change unwanted behaviors and increase the frequency of positive behaviors through punishments and reinforcements

token economy

a behavioral modification system where individuals earns token, points, or symbolic rewards for exhibiting desired behaviors, which can later be exchanged for specific privileges, goods, or incentives. it is commonly used in educational, therapeutic, or institutional settings to reinforce positive behaviors and discourage negative ones

biofeedback training

a form of therapy in which one uses an external device to receive data about their physiological state that can help them gain control over autonomic body functions, such as heart rate or blood pressure. used as therapy for various conditions, including anxiety, chronic pain, and hypertension

social skills training

a form of therapy in which individuals acquire important interpersonal skills, including communication and assertiveness, through behavioral exercises, such as role-playing, modeling, rehearsal, and shaping

cognitive therapy

various therapeutic methods that help individuals eliminate maladaptive ways of thinking and replace them with a healthier way to think about and perceive the world

cognitive restructuring

a therapeutic process of learning to identify, dispute, and replace irrational or maladaptive thoughts with more realistic and positive beliefs

cognitive triad of depression

an individual with depression’s negative interpretations of themselves, the world, and the future

cognitive-behavioral therapy

a type of therapy that combines cognitive therapy (changing faulty thinking) with behavioral therapy (changing maladaptive behaviors)

rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) or Rational emotive therapy (RET)

a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy developed by Albert Ellis that focuses on identifying and challenging irrational beliefs that lead to emotional and behavioral problems. using the ABC model, it helps clients understand how beliefs (B) about activating events (A) influence emotional consequences (C), and teaches them to replace irrational thoughts with more logical, realistic ones to improve mental well-being

dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

a form of therapy that combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices to help individuals manage intense emotions, address dysfunctional behaviors, and foster self-acceptance. the therapy progresses through three phases: managing severe behaviors like self-harm and teaching problem-solving and mindfulness skills; processing and healing past traumatic experiences; and building self-respect, independence, and a stable sense of identity to navigate life effectively

hypnotherapy

a type of therapy that uses hypnosis to effective alleviate pain and anxiety in treatment settings. it has shown success in helping individuals manage chronic pain and reduce anxiety levels

individual therapy

the most common type of therapy where the therapist concentrates solely on one client at a time

group therapy

a type of therapy in which an individual meets with others experiencing similar challenges and a therapist to feel less alone and gain perspective from others regarding coping skills

psychopharmacology

the use of drugs to relieve or control the major symptoms of psychological disorders

antipsychotic drugs

a category of psychotropic drugs primarily designed to treat the symptoms associated with schizophrenia

tardive dyskinesia

a neurological side effect often seen with the use of antipsychotic medication in which the muscles in the face and around the mouth (and occasionally other parts of the body) are in constant motion. the effects may be reduced with the discontinuation of medications but are permanent in some cases

conventional antipsychotics (neuroleptics)

an older form of antipsychotic medications that treated positive symptoms by blocking reuptake of dopamine. these drugs carried a higher risk of tardive dyskinesia

atypical antipsychotics

a newer form of antipsychotic drugs that work by blocking dopamine transmission but also affect serotonin receptors as well. these drugs are known for having fewer movement-related side effects like tardive dyskinesia and are considered more effect in treating both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia

antidepressant drugs

category of psychotropic drugs primarily designed to elevate mood to treat depression

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)

a commonly prescribed antidepressant that delays serotnin’s reuptake to the presynaptic neuron; as a result, it leads to an increase in neural transmission

serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)

a type of antidepressant that eases depression by blocking the reabsorption (reuptake) of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain

anti-anxiety medication (anxiolytic)

category of psychotropic drugs primarily designed to treat symptoms like agitation, insomnia, and anxiousness by acting asa GABA agonist. the most commonly prescribed version of this category is benzodiazepines

benzodiazepine

the most frequently prescribed type of anti-anxiety medications, which are central nervous system depressants that produces sedation and relaxation

anti-manic drugs

a category of psychotropic drugs primarily designed to treat bipolar and related disorders by acting as an antagonist for norepinephrine

agonist drug

a substance that mimics and enhances a neurotransmitter’s effect. antianxiety medications are an example of this type of drug

antagonist drug

a substance that blocks normal neurotransmitter functioning. examples include antipsychotic drugs and anti-manic drugs

reuptake inhibitor

substance that interferes with the transport of released neurotransmitter molecules back into presynaptic terminal. examples include SSRIs and SNRIs

electroconvulsive therapy

a biomedical therapy for severely depressed patients who have not responded to medication in which a brief electric current is sent through the brain of an anesthetized patient, inducing a brief seizure

repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)

a noninvasive biomedical therapy that permits scientists to temporarily enhance or depress activity in a specific area of the brain using pulses from an electromagnetic coil. this repetitive treatment is used in patients who have depression symptoms that have not been reduced as a result of taking medication

psychosurgery

an invasive biomedical therapy that involves surgical removal of destruction of brain tissue or the implantation of electrodes in particular regions of the brain

lesioning

an invasive biomedical therapy that involves removing or destroying specific brain tissue to disrupt neural pathways and alleviate severe psychiatric symptoms that have not responded to other treatments

deep brain stimulation (DBS)

an invasive biomedical treatment that involves treating severe therapy that has not responded to medication by surgically implanting electrodes in specific brain areas. these electrodes are connected to a pulse generator placed under the skin that directly stimulates particular brain areas, leading to a reduction in symptoms

deinstitutionalization

transferring the treatment of mental illness from state-run psychiatric facilities to community-based facilities that emphasizes outpatient care through a combination of therapy and medication

community psychology

this branch of psychology focuses on researching and implementing strategies to prevent or reduce psychological disorders by understanding how social interactions within neighborhoods, families, and broader cultural contexts impact mental health