Psychotherapy

psychological assessment

evaluation of the patient's psychological and mental health

psychotherapy

professional treatment for psychological disorder through techniques designed to encourage communication of conflicts and insight

psychodynamic therapy (psychoanalysis)

psychological treatment based on Freudian and neo-Freudian personality theories in which the therapist helps the patient explore the unconscious dynamics of personality

interpretation

process of the therapist's trying to understand the underlying unconscious problems that are causing the symptoms

free association

therapist listens while the client talks about whatever comes to mind, without censorship or filtering

dream analysis

analyze the symbolism of the dreams in an effort to probe the unconscious thoughts of the client and interpret their significance

insight

understanding of the unconscious causes of the disorder

resistance

using defense mechanisms to avoid the painful feelings in his or her unconscious

transference

the patient unconsciously redirects feelings experienced in an important personal relationship toward the therapist

humanistic therapy

psychological treatment based on the personality theories of Carl Rogers and other humanistic psychologists

person-centered (client-centered) therapy

approach to treatment in which the client is helped to grow and develop as the therapist provides a comfortable, nonjudgemental environment

therapeutic alliance

relationship between the client and the therapist that is facilitated when the therapist is genuine, when the therapist treats the client with unconditional positive regard, and when the therapist develops empathy with the client

cognitive therapy

psychological treatment that helps clients identify incorrect or distorted beliefs that are contributing to disorder

behavioral therapy

psychological treatment that is based on the principles of learning

exposure therapy

behavioral therapy based on the classical conditioning principle of extinction in which people are confronted with a feared stimulus with the goal of decreasing their negative emotional responses to it

flooding

client is exposed to the source of his fear all at once

systematic desensitization

behavioral treatment that combines imagining or experiencing the feared object or situation with relaxation exercises

counterconditioning

second incompatible response is conditioned to an already conditioned response

virtual reality CBT

use of computer-generated, three-dimensional, lifelike images of the feared stimulus in a systematic desensitization program

aversion therapy

type of behavior therapy in which positive punishment is used to reduce the frequency of an undesirable behavior

cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT)

structured approach to treatment that attempts to reduce psychological disorders through systematic procedures based on cognitive and behavioral principles

eclectic therapy

approach to treatment in which the therapist uses whichever techniques seem most useful and relevant for a given patient