16.2
Module 16.2: Psychological Therapies
Learning Objectives
16.2 a: Know the key terminology related to psychological therapies.
16.2 b: Understand the general approaches to conducting major types of psychological therapy.
16.2 c: Apply your knowledge to identify major therapeutic techniques.
16.2 d: Analyze the pros and cons of the major types of psychological therapy.
Ethical Considerations in Therapy
Medical doctors follow the Hippocratic Oath, pledging to cause no harm to patients.
Psychologists adhere to this concept, striving for techniques that are safe and effective.
Treatments should be avoided if they may worsen a condition, except when no alternatives exist.
Example of Harmful Therapy
Scared Straight program (1970s): Targeted at-risk youth by exposing them to harsh realities of prison.
Intended to deter criminal behavior through shock tactics.
Resulted in unintended consequences: participants had an increased likelihood of committing crimes.
Demonstrates the potential risks of therapy approaches that rely on fear.
Overview of Psychological Therapy
Psychological therapy is a collection of processes for addressing emotional, behavioral, and social issues.
Focuses on communication between the therapist and the patient rather than biological methods.
Insight Therapies
Emphasize self-knowledge and understanding as pathways to behavioral change.
Psychoanalysis: Founded by Sigmund Freud, this therapy seeks to uncover unconscious conflicts affecting behavior.
Freud’s early work addressed unexplained physical symptoms without biological causes.
Concluded that unconscious motivations (related to biological urges) impact behavior.
Techniques in Psychoanalysis
Free Association: Patients share thoughts without censoring to reveal unconscious influences.
Dream Analysis: Interprets dreams to access latent content (hidden meanings).
Example: A patient dreaming of a dog attack linking fear of rejection in waking life.
Resistance: Observations of patient's avoidance behaviors during sessions signal access to unconscious thoughts.
Transference: Patients project feelings about significant others onto the therapist, allowing exploration of these dynamics.
Modern Psychodynamic Therapies
Evolved from traditional psychoanalysis, focusing on conscious experience and relational influences.
Object Relations Therapy: Examines early experiences and their impact on relationship patterns.
Focuses on mental representations of self and significant others.
Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy
Emerged in the 1950s, breaking from psychoanalytic views.
Emphasizes individual strengths, potential for growth, and a positive view of human nature.
Client-Centered Therapy (by Carl Rogers): Highlights unconditional positive regard and self-actualization.
Conditions of Worth: Psychological issues arise when individuals feel loved based on behaviors satisfying others' expectations.
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
Developed from client-centered therapy, focusing on accepting emotions rather than suppressing them.
Involves fostering a therapeutic dialogue based on empathy and understanding.
Evaluating Insight Therapies
Effectiveness largely varies by the condition being treated.
Psychodynamic therapy shows promise for treatment of:
Panic disorder
Dependence on opiate drugs (e.g., heroin)
Borderline personality disorder
Insight-oriented therapies can help less severe conditions like mild depression and anxiety.
Behavioral, Cognitive, and Group Therapies
Behavioral Therapies: Address problem behaviors stemming from conditioning.
Example: Systematic Desensitization for phobias involving gradual exposure to reduce anxiety.
Flooding: Direct exposure to the most anxiety-inducing scenarios.