Therapy & Treatment Notes

Who and when developed cognitive behavioral therapy?

Aaron Beck in the 1960s

What is cognitive behavioral therapy based on?

the idea that how you think determines how you feel and act

What does cognitive behavioral therapy encourage?

Clients to find more logical ways of interpreting situations and positive ways of thinking

What do cognitive therapists help clients with?

Become aware of their cognitive distortions (thinking errors)

What is overgeneralizing?

making general assumptions based on a single event

What is polarized ("black & white") thinking?

Seeing things in absolutes

What is jumping to conclusions?

assuming that people are thinking negatively about you or reaching negatively to you, without evidence

What does cognitive behavioral therapy help people with?

Identify unhelpful thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Focus on the present

What are examples of cognitive behavioral therapy during a presentation?

Thoughts: "I'm going to mess up"

Feelings: anxious

Behavior: avoiding eye contact, looking down, stumbling over words

Thought: "ugh, I'm messing this up"

What does the ABC model reveal?

Cognitive distortions

What are examples of cognitive distortions?

Overgeneralizing, black and white thinking, and jumping to conclusions

What is an example of the ABC model?

A: a friend isn't as talkative to you

B: They must be mad at me

C: feel bad about yourself, anxious, or upset. Develop ruminating thoughts

What is the main focus of psychoanalysis?

Understanding how the past affects the present

What types of mental processes does psychoanalysis aim to identify?

Unconscious mental processes

What is one of the goals of psychoanalysis regarding emotions?

To uncover repressed feelings

How does psychoanalysis help individuals understand their struggles?

By exploring the impact of past experiences and unconscious conflicts on current behavior

How are childhood and unconscious conflicts viewed in psychoanalysis?

As key influences on present-day behavior and emotional struggles

What does psychoanalysis aim to do with patterns from the past?

Identify recurring patterns and help individuals make a plan to change them in the present

How many symptoms are required for a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder?

5 out of 9 specified symptoms

What are some of the symptoms for Borderline Personality Disorder?

1. Chronic feelings of emptiness

2. Emotional instability in reaction to day-to-day events (e.g., intense episodic sadness, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours)

3. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment

4. Unstable self-image or sense of self

5. Impulsive behavior in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating)

6. Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger

7. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by extremes between idealization and devaluation (also known as "splitting")

8. Recurrent suicidal or self-harming behavior or threats

9. Paranoid ideation (mistrust of others, assuming others have harmful motives)

What is the main focus of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?

Teaching skills to manage emotions, handle stress, and improve relationships

What is mindfulness in DBT?

The practice of being fully present and aware in the moment, rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future

What is distress tolerance in DBT?

The ability to endure and manage emotional pain or stress without using harmful behaviors

What is interpersonal effectiveness in DBT?

The skill of asserting your needs, setting boundaries, and maintaining self-respect while preserving healthy relationships

What is emotion regulation in DBT?

Learning to understand, reduce vulnerability to, and gain control over intense emotions

Who developed EMDR and when?

Francine Shapiro in 1987

What is EMDR primarily used to treat?

Traumatic or distressing memories

What type of stimulation is used in EMDR to aid in processing memories?

Bilateral stimulation, such as side-to-side eye movements or tapping

How does EMDR affect how the brain stores traumatic memories?

It facilitates reprocessing so the memory loses its emotional intensity and becomes less distressing

What part of the brain does EMDR engage to support healing?

Both hemispheres, promoting communication and activating the brain's natural healing processes

What happens during an EMDR session?

The person recalls a disturbing memory while simultaneously performing a bilateral task, helping to reframe the memory

Which form of therapy is effective for patients who struggle with managing their emotions?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

What are two differences between psychopaths and sociopaths?

sociopaths engage in reckless behavior (violations of the law), whereas psychopaths do not.

psychopaths are manipulative (create false relationships) in work settings and are seen as successful, and sociopaths are more likely to lie and have difficulty managing relationships.

sociopaths tend to be reclusive whereas psychopaths tend to be outgoing, engaging, and charming.

What is repetition compulsion? (a term used in psychoanalysis)

unconsciously repeat past traumatic experience or relationship in an attempt to "fix" it/ heal from it