Psyc002 Ch16 Therapy and Treatment

Psychotherapy

Treatment in which a trained professional – a

therapist – uses psychological techniques to

help someone overcome psychological

difficulties and disorders

Biomedical therapy

Relies on drugs and other medical procedures

to improve psychological functioning

Psychodynamic therapy

Bring past conflicts/unacceptable impulses from

unconscious to the conscious where patient can

deal with them more effectively

Psychodynamic Approaches to Therapy

Psychoanalysis involves frequent, long-term sessions using techniques like free association, dream interpretation, resistance, and transference.

Behavioral Approaches to Therapy

Assume all behavior is learned:

Classical Conditioning: Aversive conditioning, systematic desensitization, exposure treatments.

Operant Conditioning: Token systems, contingency contracting, observational learning.

Cognitive Approaches to Therapy

Assume dysfunction stems from maladaptive thinking and aim to teach more adaptive thought patterns.

Cognitive Behavioral therapy

Attempts to restructure a person’s belief system into a more realistic, rational, and logical set of views

Humanistic Approach to Therapy

Assumes people control their behavior, can choose their life path, and are responsible for solving their own problems.

Person/Client-centered therapy

Goal is to enable people to reach their potential for self-actualization

Group Therapy

Unrelated people meet with therapist to discuss common difficulty

Family Therapy

Involves two or more family members, one (or more) of whose problems led to treatment

Self-Help Therapy

People with similar problems get together to discuss their shared feelings and experiences -Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Evaluating Psychotherapy

Generally effective but not for everyone; some therapies suit specific problems, no single therapy is best, and recovery can sometimes occur spontaneously.

Biomedical Therapy

therapy that focuses on brain chemistry and other neurological factors

Antipsychotic Drugs

Reduce severe symptoms of disturbance, e.g., as loss of touch with reality and agitation

Antidepressant Drugs

In cases of severe depression, improve the moods of patients

Mood Stabilizers

Treats mood disorders

Antianxiety Drugs

Reduce the level of anxiety and increase feelings of well-being

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

a procedure in which an electric current of 70 to 150 volts is briefly administered to a patient’s head, causing a loss of consciousness and often seizures

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

a depression treatment in which a precise magnetic pulse is directed to a specific area of the brain

Psychosurgery

Brain surgery in which the object is to reduce symptoms of mental disorder - used rarely today

Prefrontal lobotomy

Surgically destroying or removing parts of a patient’s frontal lobes that were thought to control emotionality

Choosing a therapist

Ensure comfort, proper training, licensure, cultural competence, and noticeable progress during therapy.