3005PSY Final

counselling

counselling

the process of mental health support provided by a trained professional

specific factors

unique factors related to the approach of therapy being applied

common factors

factors not specific to any particular model but common to most therapies

types of common factors

therapeutic relationship, client factors, expectations for change, models and techniques

empathy

understanding another's experience as if you were them

passive empathy

ones unbiased undersatdning of anothers experience

active empathy

the communication of ones understanding of anothers experience in a way that is validating and supportive

Case Conceptualisation

A therapist skill to understand a client's difficulties and inform a treatment plan.

pProfessional Ethics

Principles guiding the conduct of counselors and psychologists in their practice.

4 Ps Model

A model for case conceptualisation including predisposing, precipitating, perpetuating, and protective factors.

predisposing factors

vulnerabilities to developing psychological concerns

precipitating factors

circumstances occuring prior to symptom onset; triggering development or exacerbating of concerns

perpetuating factors

factors that maintain or exacerbate symptoms after they have developed

protective factors

factors that prevent things from getting worse, improve coping, and promote recovery

Theoretical Approaches

Different theories used to explain and predict human behavior in psychotherapy.

Informed Consent

Obtaining permission from clients after explaining procedures, risks, and confidentiality aspects.

Confidentiality

Keeping client information private unless consent is given or in cases of legal obligation or harm.

Professional Conduct

Practicing within one's competence, seeking supervision, and ensuring emotional well-being for competent service delivery.

Conflicts of Interest

Avoiding multiple relationships that may impair objectivity or exploit clients, including refraining from sexual relationships

Classical Conditioning

A type of learning where an unconditioned stimulus is paired with a conditioned stimulus to evoke a conditioned response

Operant Conditioning

Learning based on the consequences of behavior, where behavior is reinforced or punished to increase or decrease its likelihood.

Positive Reinforcer

Adding something pleasurable to increase the likelihood of a behavior.

Negative Reinforcer

Removing something unpleasant to increase the likelihood of a behavior.

Positive Punisher

Adding something unpleasant to decrease the likelihood of a behavior.

Negative Punisher

Removing something pleasant to decrease the likelihood of a behavior.

SORCK Analysis

Stimuli, Organismic variables, Response or target behavior, Consequences, and Contingencies

Exposure Therapy

A treatment method involving repeated exposure to anxiety-provoking stimul;i in safe environments to eliminate a conditioned response

Aversion Therapy

A treatment method pairing a conditioned stimulus with an unpleasant unconditioned response to create a negative association.

Extinction

the process of eliminating the association between an unconditioned stimulus and a conditioned response

Transtheoretical Model

Describes motivational and action-based stages in the process of change

stages of the transtheoretical model

Pre-Contemplation, Contemplation, Determination/Preparation, Action, Maintenance, Permanent Exit, and Relapse.

precontemplation

the individual is not yet ready for change

contenplation

the individual recognises a need for change but has not yet begun the change process

determination/preparation

the individual is ready for change and has taken steps to prepare for change

action stage

the individual is making specific, overt changes in their life

maintenance

the individual is aiming for long term adherence to the changes they have ennacted

permanent exit

the individual has permanently departed from the problem behaviour

relapse

the individual returns to the problem behaviour

Motivational Interviewing

Based on the transtheoretical model, a therapeutic process involving Engaging, Focusing, Evoking, and Planning to facilitate change.

Engaging

Establishing a trusting relationship using skills like reflective listening, open-ended questions, affirmations, reflecting, and summarizing.

assessment trap

continued questioning of an individual creating a power imbalance

expert trap

acting as you have the best advise for another individual

premature focus trap

focussing before engaging

labelling trap

labelling an individual without proper evidence and when not necessary

blame trap

blaming an individual for their problems

chat trap

communicating in a way that is too conversational and directionless than required for motivational interviewing

Focusing

Identifying specific goals for change, ensuring the client's autonomy in decision-making and emphasizing personal choice.

Evoking

resolving ambivalence by recognizing and responding to change talk

prepatory change talk

the individual identifies positive aspects of change; including desire, ability, reasons, and need for change

mobilising change talk

the individual displays preparation and action for change; including commitment, activation, and taking steps toward change

Planning

developing a change plan based in collaboration with the individual

ambivalence

having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about change

Cognitive Therapy

A therapeutic approach focusing on how distorted thinking influences mood and behavior to improve psychological symptoms.

Cognitive Distortions

Biases in information processing that lead to maladaptive behavior and distressing emotions

all or nothing thinking

dichotomous, black and white thinking

selective abstraction

selectively choosing facts to support negative thinking

mind reading

believing we know what others are thinking

negative prediction

negative prediction of the future in the absence of supporting evidence

catastrophising

exaggerating consequences into something fearful

overgeneralisation

making a rule based on a few experiences

labelling and mislabelling

negative view of the self based on a few mistakes

magnification/ minimisation

magnifying imperfections and minimising positive attributes

personalisation

taking an event unrelated to the self and making it personal

Automatic Thoughts

Quick, evaluative thoughts resulting from cognitive distortions that affect emotions and behavior

Key Principles of Cognitive Therapy

cognitive flexibility, goal orientation, collaboration, psychoeducation, Socratic dialogue, and guided discovery

cognitive flexibility

the ability to choose what one believes from their own thoughts

collaborative empiricism

therapy is collaborative and based on empirical evidence

socratic dialogue

the use of strategic questionning to allow an individual to challenge their own beliefs and foster self-exploration

Mindfulness

the non-attached and non-judgemental observation of thoughts and experiences in the present moment

Mindfulness Components

Flexible attention, non-elaborative processing, acceptance of experience.

Flexible Attention

having control over the things that we focus on

Non-Elaborative Processing

being able to leave a thought as it is an not ruminate on it

Acceptance of Experience

Sitting with negative thoughts rather than avoiding them

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

a therapeutic approach focusing on mindfulness and acceptance for behaviour change

ACT Hexaflex

Contact with the present moment, acceptance, cognitive defusion, self-as-context, committed action, values.

acceptance

being intentionally open, receptive, and nonjudgemental about ones own experiences

cognitive defusion

the process of detaching oneself from own thoughts and acknowledging they do not have to be autonatically believed

Values

Chosen life directions that are meaningful to the self

Committed Action

Setting goals aligned with values and working towards them, even if not always pleasant

Postmodern Therapies

Therapeutic approaches emphasizing culture and context, and rooted in social constrictivism

Modern Therapies

Therapeutic approaches assuming an objective reality and deviation from a norm as the reason for seeking therapy.

Social Constructionism

A postmodern view emphasisng the importance of language in influecning how people think about their problems

Structuralism

Language focusing on the client as the issue

Post-Structuralism

Language separating the client from the issue

Solution Focused Therapy (SFT)

A future-focused therapeutic approach emphasising client strengths, exceptions to problems, and constructing solutions.

Pre-Therapy Change

Positive change initiated by scheduling an appointment, reflecting progress before therapy begins.

Miracle Questions

imagining a future where the problem is solved

Scaling Questions

Quantify change by asking clients to rate feelings on a scale, making progress more visible and measurable.

narrative therapy

a therapeutic approach that views the client as the expert in their lives

core components of narrative therapy

multiplicity of stories, dominant story, alternate stories

externalising conversations

separate the problem from the person

Culture

A set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices among a group of people.

Multicultural Competence

The ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.

externalising disorders

 behavioural problems directed toward the external world.

internalising disorders

 psychological or emotional problems directed inward involving the child’s inner world

Developmental Psychopathology

Understanding psychological disorders in children based on deviation from normal developmental courses (measured via intensity, frequency, duration, number and configuration of symptoms)

Child Assessment

Involves multiple sources like parent interviews, school observations, and child interviews to understand and treat psychological issues.

Ageism

Negative views and discrimination against older adults based on their age.

Reasons for Suicide in Older Adults

depression in response to loss, understandable suicide, hopelessness due to financial distress or health issues.

understandable suicide

suicide to end physical suffering