Rathus_PSYCH_7e_PPT_CH13

Methods of Therapy
- Focus on various approaches to psychotherapy and treatment of psychological disorders.

Group activity: Discuss goals when talking to a friend about problems.
- Determine whether the goal is problem-solving or venting.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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 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.

Advantages of Group Therapy:
- Economical with shared experiences; supports social skills development.
Types of Group Therapy:
- Couples therapy, family therapy, self-help/support groups.

Meta-analysis shows effectiveness, especially for psychodynamic and cognitive therapies in treating:
- Anxiety, depression, and social skills deficits.

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

Drug Therapy:
- Antianxiety and antipsychotic medications; antidepressants; mood stabilizers.
Other Biological Treatments:
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and psychosurgery.

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