Therapy Theories Quick Study

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering major trauma, behavioral, cognitive, family, and other therapy theories for exam preparation.

Trauma Informed Therapy

An approach aware of the complex impact of trauma on a client, integrating psychological, neurological, biological, and interpersonal effects into every aspect of treatment while prioritizing safety and empowerment.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

A highly structured $8$ step protocol for trauma treatment involving bilateral stimulations or controlled eye movements while clients recall distressing images to alleviate symptoms.

Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

An evidence-based, short term treatment (generally $8-25$ sessions) for children and adolescents that involves individual and joint sessions with parents or caregivers.

Stabilization (TF-CBT Stage 1)

The first stage of TF-CBT focused on providing psychoeducation, relaxation skills, and parenting skills to help the child and parent tolerate trauma processing.

Trauma narrative (TF-CBT Stage 2)

An intervention where the child tells the story of their trauma in increasing detail to make sense of the experience and decrease emotional and physiological reactivity.

Integration and consolidation (TF-CBT Stage 3)

The final phase of TF-CBT occurring after the trauma narrative that focuses on enhancing personal safety and future growth.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy

An evidence-based treatment for PTSD that uses both imaginal (retelling trauma memories) and in-vivo (in person) exposure to help clients approach anxiety-provoking situations.

Positive Reinforcement

Increasing the likelihood of a behavior by following it with the addition of a rewarding stimulus.

Negative Reinforcement

Increasing the likelihood of a behavior by following it with the removal of an aversive or undesirable stimulus.

Positive Punishment

Decreasing a behavior by following it with the addition of an undesirable stimulus, such as a loud noise or a shock.

Negative Punishment

Decreasing a behavior by following it with the removal of a desired stimulus.

Token Economy

An exchange system based on operant conditioning where tokens are given as rewards for desired behaviors and later exchanged for prizes, goods, or services.

Shaping

A form of operant conditioning where increasingly accurate approximations of a desired response are reinforced.

Cognitive Therapy

A therapy focused on learning to modify dysfunctional thought patterns, automatic thoughts, schemas, and beliefs to address self-destructive behaviors.

Negative Cognitive Triad

A CBT concept involving a negative view of self, a negative view of the world, and a negative view of prospects for the future.

Schemas

A network of rules or templates shaped by developmental influences that dictate how individuals interpret the world and regulate self-worth.

Cognitive Restructuring

A process of teaching clients to identify irrational beliefs, question the evidence for them, and generate alternative thoughts.

Thought Record

A tool used to record the situation, automatic thought, emotion, behaviors, and alternative responses.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

An evidence-based treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder that focuses on mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal problem solving.

Wise mind

A DBT concept that helps clients balance both reason and emotion when making decisions.

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

A short term therapy helping clients replace self-defeating rigid thought patterns with healthier ones and emphasizes unconditional self acceptance.

Systematic Desensitization

A type of exposure therapy used for phobias where a client is exposed to progressively more anxiety-provoking material while using relaxation skills.

Secure Attachment

An attachment style where the person has a balanced view of parents, a strong sense of self, and easy access to a wide range of feelings.

Preoccupied/Anxious Attachment

An attachment style characterized by a fear of abandonment, being overwhelmed by anger toward caregivers, and over-dependence on attachment figures.

Dismissive/Avoidant Attachment

An attachment style involving the dismissal of the importance of emotions, idealization of caregivers without corroborating memories, and high independence.

Fearful/Avoidant Attachment

An attachment style usually linked to trauma or loss, where the person dismisses love out of fear of being unworthy and has difficulty trusting others.

Joining

The first task in Structural Family Therapy where the therapist blends in with the family by adapting to their style, language, and affect.

Enmeshed Boundaries

A family structure where members are overly dependent and closely involved, often linked to a higher incidence of incest.

Disengaged Boundaries

A family structure where members are disconnected and isolated, often showing a greater prevalence of substance abuse.

Family Map

A tool used by a Structural Family therapist to depict relationship dynamics and subsystems; it is used for conceptualization and not shared with the family.

Positioning

A Strategic Family Therapy intervention where the therapist takes an exaggerated view of the problem to help the family recognize their own agency.

Paradoxical Directives

Maneuvers in Strategic Family Therapy that appear to contradict therapy goals but are designed to achieve them, such as asking a child to tanrum.

Genograms

A diagram created in session that displays detailed data on multigenerational relationships, mental health, and substance abuse patterns.

Systems Theory

The study of all contributing factors in a person's life, such as social environment, neighborhood, and economic class, to understand behavior and wellbeing.

Psychodynamic Therapy

A therapy focused on insight into early unresolved issues from childhood, identifying defense mechanisms, and exploring transference.

Congruence

The therapist's genuineness and honesty in thoughts and feelings during Client-Centered Therapy.

Unconditional Positive Regard

The complete acceptance and nonjudgmental respect of the client's feelings in Client-Centered Therapy.

Miracle Question

A Solution Focused Therapy technique where the therapist asks the client to envision life as it would be if the problem were solved.

Task-Centered/Problem-Solving Therapy

A short-term therapy focusing on client-defined problems through the implementation of specific actions or tasks rehearsed in session.

Gestalt Therapy

A therapy focusing on the here-and-now experience and process, often utilizing the empty chair technique for dialogue.

Narrative Therapy

A non-blaming approach that views clients as experts and focuses on externalizing problems to create a new story based on competencies.

Logotherapy

A therapy based on the belief that finding personal meaning in life is the primary motivating and driving human force.

Feminist Therapy

A therapy aimed at recognizing disempowering social forces and empowering clients by viewing them as their own rescuers and equals to the therapist.