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INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOTHERAPY
PSYCHOTHERAPY
Treatment of psychological disorders involving psychological techniques
Involve interactions between a trained therapist and someone seeking to overcome psychological difficulties or achieve personal growth
HISTORY OF PSYCHOTHERAPY In the past, we have treated psychological disorders by
cutting holes in the head, restraining patients, beating out the devil, bleeding, by putting patients in sunny, serene environments, by giving electric shock therapy, by giving drugs, and by talking…. Biological and psychological treatments have developed
simultaneously Brutal to humane: Philippe Pinel and Dorthea Dix 19th century: treatment of hysteria (a somatoform disorder)
Franz Anton Mesmer developed hypnosis to treat hysteria Development of psychoanalysis
20th century: rise of behavioral therapy Second half of the 20th century: humanistic and cognitive
treatment Today: Evidence-Based Practice
Combines research, clinical expertise, and patient values to provide the best outcome for a patient
TYPES OF THERAPISTS
Who administers psychotherapy? General medical practitioners,
psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, religious leaders
Can all be called psychotherapists Licensing is administered by state
governments
TYPES OF THERAPIES
Insight Therapies Psychoanalysis Client-Centered (Humanistic)
Behavior Cognitive Cognitive-Behavioral
INSIGHT THERAPIES
Therapies that aim to improve psychological functioning by increasing the client’s awareness of underlying motives and defenses
Assumes that people will improve when they understand their problems
PSYCHOANALYSIS Developed by Freud (yet few practice it today as
Freud did – relatively few therapists offer it) First psychological therapy
Reflected his belief in conflict (between the id, ego, superego), the unconscious mind, childhood experiences, and repressed memories
Therapist (psychoanalyst) takes a directive role (in charge of the session) to help the patient uncover unconscious contributions to their problems Goal: Patient brings repressed feelings into conscious
awareness and takes responsibility for their own growth
Takes several years and several sessions a week (very expensive!)
ELEMENTS OF PSYCHOANALYSIS Goal: unearth the past in hopes of unmasking the present Uses free association: a person says whatever comes to
mind Don’t think before you speak! Therapist takes notes and then interprets meaning
Some engage in dream analysis Transference: therapists uses the responses of the patient to
the therapist to understand the patient’s approach to authority figures in general Patient yells at therapist, then the therapist may infer that the
patient used to act similarly to parents or other authority figures Resistance: patient’s reluctance to accept the
interpretations of the therapist indicate that the therapist’s interpretations are correct This occurs when the patient is getting closer to insight A result of our unconscious wishes to avoid punishment and
defend ourselves Is demonstrated when the patient changes the subject, disagrees
with the interpretation, or even misses an appointment
DOES IT WORK?
Interpretations cannot be proven or disproven
Psychoanalysis is therapy, not science (according to proponents)
PSYCHODYNAMIC THERAPY
Aka short-term psychodynamic therapy Insight is still the goal Influenced by Freud, but tries to
understand a patient’s current symptoms by focusing on themes across important relationships
Once a week, only for a few weeks or month
HUMANISTIC THERAPY Client (person) centered therapy
Developed by Carl Rogers Developed in opposition to psychoanalysis
Humanists believed that humans were inherently good (opposite of Freud’s beliefs)
Conscious rather than unconscious Present/future over past Responsibility for one’s feelings and actions Promoting growth rather than curing illness
Nondirective; Client (not patient); More of an equal process; Client takes active role
Goal of therapy is eliminate discrepancies between the ideal and real selves (failing to do so leads to disorders) Help people growth in self-awareness and acceptance
CONT.
Techniques: Active-listening: echoing, restating, and seeking
clarification of what the person expresses, and acknowledging the expressed feelings
Only interrupts to do these things Empathy and unconditional positive regard
Creates a safe, supportive environment
Called it counseling rather than treatment Not necessarily effective for severe disorders