Chapter 17: Therapy

Overview of Modern Therapy

What are the two major approaches to therapy?

List the four types of psychotherapy.What is the role of the therapist in

humanistic therapy?What is the major difference between

humanistic and cognitive therapy?

Definition of treatment

When is treatment necessary?

Inpatient vs. outpatient

Psychotherapy vs. biomedical

Modern Therapy

The Medical Model– “Madness” is a mental illness that can be

diagnosed, treated, and cured– Has links to modern insights into genetic

causes of disorders and modern biomedical treatments

Modern Therapy

The Bio-Psycho-Social Model– Behavior is the result of interaction

between nature and nurture– To attribute a disorder to “illness” is

to say that the cause is purely internal

Two approaches:– Psychotherapy

A planned, emotionally charged interaction between a trained, socially sanctioned healer and the sufferer

Modern Therapy

Modern Therapy

Two approaches:– Biomedical Therapy

Drug therapies and medical procedures designed to cure the mental illness

Psychotherapies:– Over 250 types of psychotherapies exist– The most influential:

PsychoanalysisHumanistic TherapyCognitive TherapyBehavior Therapy

Modern Therapy

} Insight Therapy

Biomedical Treatments:– Drug Therapy– Electro-convulsive shock therapy– Psychosurgery

Modern Therapy

Modern Therapy

Psychoanalysis

Assumptions:– Psychological problems are fueled by

repressed impulses and conflicts– Analysis brings these thoughts to the

surface which relieves the sufferer of anxiety

Psychoanalysis

Methods:– Historical reconstruction

Unearth the cause of conflict by reconstructing the past

– Free association Say whatever comes to mind on a given topic Therapist looks for “resistance” in the form of hesitation,

jokes, self-editing, or embarrassment Therapist interprets the underlying meaning of the

resistance

– Transference Directing your hidden feelings and wishes towards your

therapist

Psychoanalysis

Criticisms:– Based on the assumption that

repressed memories exist– Interpretations are hard to refute– Takes a lot of time and money

Humanistic Therapy

Humanistic Therapy

Assumptions:– People have an inherent potential for

self-fulfillment– Helping people grow in self-

awareness is the key to mental health

Humanistic Therapy

Methods:– Client Centered Therapy

Non-directiveGenuineness, acceptance, empathyActive listening

Humanistic Therapy

Criticisms:– One cannot be totally nondirective– Overly optimistic about human nature– Cannot help in severe cases

Cognitive Therapy

Assumptions:– Thinking greatly colors feelings and

actions

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. Viktor E. Frankl

Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way. Viktor E. Frankl

Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive-behavior interatction

Belief: “I’m not a good test taker”

Action: Anxiety-induced poor test performance

CausesReinforces

Cognitive Therapy

Methods:– Rational-emotive therapy

Works to uncover irrationalities in thought

– Cognitive-behavior therapyAddresses destructive cycle

of thoughts and actions

Cognitive Therapy

Criticisms:– Not effective for severe cases– Lack of patient buy-in could cause

progress to fail after therapy

Behavior Therapies

Assumptions:– The behavior is the problem– Doubt the healing power of self-

awareness

Behavior Therapies

Methods:– Classical Conditioning

Systematic desensitizationAversive conditioning

– Operant ConditioningToken economy

Behavior Therapies

Criticisms:– Does not get to the root of

the problem– “Cure” only effective during

treatment, when reinforcement stops so will appropriate behavior

– Ethical concerns of behavior modification?

Biomedical Therapy

Drug therapy– Anti-psychotics– Anti-anxiety– Anti-depressants

Biomedical Therapy

Electro-convulsive shock therapy (ECT)

Psycho-surgery– Lobotomy

Biomedical Therapy

Criticisms– Addresses symptoms without

addressing the cause– By itself, not as effective in long term

behavior correction