AP Psychology - Therapy

Evidence-based interventions

Supported by scientific reserach and have been shown to be effective.

Therapeautic alliance

Relationship between therapist and client, legally protected

Cultural humility

Being culturally aware, helping therapists engage with clients from different cultural backgrounds

Nonmaleficence

1st ethical principle of “Do not harm”, ensuring that treatment does not cause unneccessary harm to the client

Fidelity

2nd ethical principle of loyalty

Integrity

Doing the right thing

Confidentiality

5th ethical principle of protecting client’s sensitive information

Psychodynamic therapies

Freudian, uncovering unconscious conflicts.

Dream interpretation

Anylizing the content of dreams to uncover unscous dreams and conflicts

Free association

Clients say whatever comes to mind without censorship

Cognitive therapies

Changing maladaptive thoughts to improve emotions and behaviors

Rational emotive behavior therapy

Focuses on changing irrational beliefs to reduce emotional distress

Cognitive restructuring

Techniques of identifying and challenging distorted thinking patterns

Combating maladaptive thinking

Broader idea, similar to cognitive therapy as a whole

Cognitive triad

Three types of negative thoughts

Negative view of: Self, the world, the future

Dialectical behavior therapy

Helps individuals manage intense emotions and keep them stable. May be used to treat borderline, by teaching clients to manage their intense emotions.

Behavioral therapies

Classical conditioning, mostly for unlearning phobias

Applied behavioral analysis

Used for people with diminished capacity

Low IQ, severe autism, neurodevelopmental disorders.

Token economies

“If you do 3 good behaviors then you get a lollypop”

Fear hierarchies

Ranks triggers from least to most anxiety provoking:

thinking about rollercoaster - seeing a roller coaster - riding a roller coaster

Exposure therapies

Confronting your trigger or fear

Flooding

Terrible idea, pushing someone into something without systematic desensitaztion

Aversion therapies

Association with something unpleasant

Person-centered therapy

Humanistic, supportive environment

Active listening

Paraphrasing what someone said, listening well and understanding

Unconditional positive regard

“I love you/i’m proud of you no matter what”

Group therapy

A group of individiauls with a therapist, can be any approach

Psychoactive medication

Affect mood, cognition, behavior. Self medicating. (Coffee, red bull)

Psychotrophic medication

Prescription drugs (Adderall)

Biofeedback

A device to be aware of brain waves, pulse, autonomic processes

Antidepressants

Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitor

Benzodiazepines

Common anxiety/sedative meds

Lithium

A metal that reduces extremes of bipolar disorder

Psychosurgery

Stops leaks (blood), removes blockage (blood), removes tumors

Lesioning

Damaging the brain for a good cause

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Non invasive prodecure, uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to treat depression.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Used to treat depression. Creates a short seizure, very few side effects, usually works very well.

Lobotomy

Damaging the frontal lobe to mask symptoms. Used against neurodivergents (or basically anyone). BAD BAD BAD.