Chapter 17 Therapy Overview of Modern Therapy Psychoanalysis

Chapter 17: Therapy Overview of Modern Therapy

Psychoanalysis l Assumptions: Psychological problems are fueled by repressed impulses and conflicts – Analysis brings these thoughts to the surface which relieves the sufferer of anxiety –

Psychoanalysis l Methods: – Historical reconstruction l – Free association l l l – Unearth the cause of conflict by reconstructing the past 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 l Directing your hidden feelings and wishes towards your therapist

Psychoanalysis l Criticisms: Based on the assumption that repressed memories exist – Interpretations are hard to refute – Takes a lot of time and money –

Psychodynamic therapy l Less time and money than traditional psychoanalysis l Focuses more on the present while giving attention to the past

Humanistic Therapy

Humanistic Therapy l Assumptions: People have an inherent potential for self-fulfillment – Helping people grow in selfawareness is the key to mental health –

Humanistic Therapy l Differs from psychoanalysis by focusing on – – The present and the future more than the past Conscious rather than unconscious thoughts Taking immediate responsibility for one’s feelings and actions Promoting growth instead of curing illness

Humanistic Therapy l Methods: – Client Centered Therapy l Non-directive l Genuineness, acceptance, empathy l Active listening

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

Cognitive Therapy l Assumptions: – Thinking greatly colors feelings and actions

l 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

l 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” Causes Reinforces Action: Anxietyinduced poor test performance

Cognitive Therapy l Methods: – Rational-emotive therapy l Works to uncover irrationalities in thought – Cognitive-behavior therapy l Addresses destructive cycle of thoughts and actions

Cognitive Therapy l Criticisms: Not effective for severe cases – Lack of patient buy-in could cause progress to fail after therapy –

Behavior Therapies l Assumptions: The behavior is the problem – Doubt the healing power of selfawareness –

Behavior Therapies l Methods: – Classical Conditioning l Systematic desensitization l Aversive conditioning – Operant Conditioning l Token economy

Behavior Therapies l 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?

Psychotherapies provide: l Hope for demoralized people l A new perspective l An empathetic, trusting, caring relationship

Do psychotherapies work? l Research is split but tends to indicate that therapy is generally better than no treatment l Different therapies are better for different problems l Don’t discount the power of suggestion