Rathus_PSYCH_7e_PPT_CH13

Chapter Overview

• Methods of Therapy

  • Focus on various approaches to psychotherapy and treatment of psychological disorders.

Icebreaker Discussion

• Group activity: Discuss goals when talking to a friend about problems.

  • Determine whether the goal is problem-solving or venting.

Chapter Objectives

• By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  • Define psychotherapy and its history.

  • Describe traditional psychoanalysis and short-term psychodynamic therapies.

  • Explain humanistic therapy and its two main approaches.

  • Define behavior therapy and identify various behavioral approaches.

  • Describe cognitive therapy and the approaches of Aaron Beck and Albert Ellis.

  • Identify types of group therapy, along with their advantages and disadvantages.

  • Discuss the effectiveness of psychotherapy and its benefits.

  • Describe biological therapy methods, including their benefits and side effects.

What is Psychotherapy? (Section 13-1)

• Definition: Systematic interaction between a client and therapist applying psychological principles.

  • Goal: Affect thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

  • Use: Help clients overcome psychological disorders and personal growth.

The History Of Therapies

• Asylums: Historic institutions for mentally ill.

• Mental Hospitals: Replaced asylums in the U.S., focusing on treatment.

• Community Mental Health Movement: Originated in the 1960s; focuses on outpatient care.

Goals of Psychotherapy

• Change behaviors, help adjust to living problems, and identify areas for client improvement.

Psychodynamic Therapies (Section 13-2)

• Traditional Psychodynamic Therapies:

  • Based on Freud’s theories. Assumes problems originate from early experiences.

  • Psychoanalysis: Insight into underlying conflicts; includes catharsis and expression of repressed emotions.

  • Techniques:

    • Free association: Uncensored thought expression.

    • Dream analysis: Interpreting unconscious motives.

Modern Psychodynamic Approaches

• Focus on shorter, more direct treatment; modern therapists act as ego analysts emphasizing the ego over id.

Humanistic Therapies (Section 13-3)

• Client-Centered Therapy:

  • Developed by Carl Rogers; emphasizes self-exploration and self-expression.

  • Qualities include unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuineness.

• Gestalt Therapy:

  • Created by Fritz Perls; focuses on integrating conflicting parts of the personality through directive methods.

Behavior Therapy (Section 13-4)

• Overview: Applies learning principles to promote behavioral change.

  • Techniques include:

    • Systematic desensitization: Gradual exposure to fear stimuli.

    • Modeling: Observing and imitating coping behaviors.

    • Aversive conditioning: Pairing unwanted behaviors with unpleasant stimuli.

    • Operant conditioning: Reinforcement strategies like token economy and social skills training.

Cognitive Therapies (Section 13-5)

• Cognitive Therapy:

  • Changing maladaptive thoughts to alleviate problems.

• Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Therapy:

  • Focuses on irrational fears and cognitive errors like overgeneralization and absolutist thinking.

• Albert Ellis’s Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy:

  • Encourages clients to identify and change irrational beliefs.

Group Therapies (Section 13-6)

• Advantages of Group Therapy:

  • Economical with shared experiences; supports social skills development.

• Types of Group Therapy:

  • Couples therapy, family therapy, self-help/support groups.

Effectiveness of Psychotherapy (Section 13-7)

• Meta-analysis shows effectiveness, especially for psychodynamic and cognitive therapies in treating:

  • Anxiety, depression, and social skills deficits.

Ethnicity and Psychotherapy

• Challenges: Lower participation from minorities due to distrust, language barriers, and cultural conflicts.

Biological Therapies (Section 13-8)

• Drug Therapy:

  • Antianxiety and antipsychotic medications; antidepressants; mood stabilizers.

• Other Biological Treatments:

  • Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and psychosurgery.

Summary

• Psychotherapy encompasses a range of techniques aimed at resolving psychological disorders, including modern psychodynamic, humanistic, behavior, and biological methods.