Psychoanalysis and Humanistic Therapies Chapter 15 Lecture 1

Psychoanalysis and Humanistic Therapies Chapter 15, Lecture 1 “The insight therapies assume that many psychological problems diminish as selfawareness grows. ” - David Myers

First, some introductory activities Answers to Handout 15 -1 1. F 2. F 3. F 4. F 5. T 6. F 7. F 8. T 9. T 10. F

First, some introductory activities Respond to the statement below using the following scale: 3 = Agree 1 = Partly Disagree 2 = Partly Agree 0 = Disagree 1. If I believed I was having a mental breakdown, my first inclination would be to get professional attention. 2. The idea of talking about problems with a psychologist strikes me as a poor way to get rid of emotional conflicts. 3. If I were experiencing a serious emotional crisis at this point in my life, I would be confident that I could find relief in psychotherapy.

First, some introductory activities Respond to the statement below using the following scale: 3 = Agree 1 = Partly Disagree 2 = Partly Agree 0 = Disagree 4. There is something admirable in the attitude of a person who is willing to cope with his or her conflicts and fears without resorting to professional help. 5. I would want to get psychological help if I were worried or upset for a long period of time. 6. I might want to have psychological counseling in the future.

First, some introductory activities Respond to the statement below using the following scale: 3 = Agree 1 = Partly Disagree 2 = Partly Agree 0 = Disagree 7. A person with an emotional problem is not likely to solve it alone; he or she is likely to solve it with professional help. 8. Considering the time and expense involved in psychotherapy, it would have doubtful value for a person like me. 9. A person should work out his or her own problems; getting psychological counseling would be a last resort.

First, some introductory activities Respond to the statement below using the following scale: 3 = Agree 1 = Partly Disagree 2 = Partly Agree 0 = Disagree 10. Personal and emotional troubles, like many things, tend to work out by themselves. Reverse the numbers you gave for items 2, 4, 8, 9, and 10 (0 = 3, 1 = 2, 2 = 1, 3 = 0), then add all the numbers. Higher scores reflect a more favorable attitude toward seeking professional psychological help. Mean scores have been reported as 19. 08 and 15. 46 for female and male undergraduates, respectively.

A 2004 APA poll reported that nearly half of Americans have had someone in their household seek mental health treatment at some time. Most (81%) continue to perceive cost and lack of insurance coverage as barriers to getting treatment. Poll results also showed that only 30% of Americans say that they would be concerned about other people finding out that they had seen a mental health professional, and only 20% say that stigma is a very important reason not to seek help. Nearly half (47%) say that the stigma surrounding mental health services has decreased in recent years and that the media gets the most credit for that (35%), although society in general (25%) seems to be more accepting as well.

History of Insane Treatment Maltreatment of the insane throughout the ages was the result of irrational views. Many patients were subjected to strange, debilitating, and downright dangerous treatments. The Granger Collection

History of Insane Treatment Philippe Pinel in France and Dorthea Dix in America founded humane movements to care for the mentally sick. Culver Pictures http: //wwwihm. nlm. nih. gov Philippe Pinel (1745 -1826) Dorthea Dix (1802 -1887)

Therapies Psychotherapy involves an emotionally charged, confiding interaction between a trained therapist and a mental patient. Biomedical therapy uses drugs or other procedures that act on the patient’s nervous system, treating his or her psychological disorders. An eclectic approach uses various forms of healing techniques depending upon the client’s unique problems.

Psychological Therapies We will look at four major forms of psychotherapies based on different theories of human nature: 1. Psychoanalytic theory 2. Humanistic theory 3. Behavioral theory 4. Cognitive theory

Psychoanalysis The first formal psychotherapy to emerge was psychoanalysis, developed by Sigmund Freud. Edmund Engleman Sigmund Freud's famous couch

Psychoanalysis: Aims Since psychological problems originate from childhood repressed impulses and conflicts, the aim of psychoanalysis is to bring repressed feelings into conscious awareness where the patient can deal with them. When energy devoted to id-ego-superego conflicts is released, the patient’s anxiety lessens.

Psychoanalysis: Methods Dissatisfied with hypnosis, Freud developed the method of free association to unravel the unconscious mind and its conflicts. The patient lies on a couch and speaks about whatever comes to his or her mind. http: //www. english. upenn. edu

Psychoanalysis: Methods During free association, the patient edits his thoughts, resisting his or her feelings to express emotions. Such resistance becomes important in the analysis of conflict-driven anxiety. Eventually the patient opens up and reveals his or her innermost private thoughts, developing positive or negative feelings (transference) towards therapist.

Psychoanalysis: Criticisms 1. Psychoanalysis is hard to refute because it cannot be proven or disproven. 2. Psychoanalysis takes a long time and is very expensive.

Psychodynamic Therapy Influenced by Freud, in a face-to-face setting, psychodynamic therapists understand symptoms and themes across important relationships in a patient’s life.

Psychodynamic Therapies Interpersonal psychotherapy, a variation of psychodynamic therapy, is effective in treating depression. It focuses on symptom relief here and now, not an overall personality change.

Humanistic Therapies Humanistic therapists aim to boost selffulfillment by helping people grow in self -awareness and self-acceptance.

Client-Centered Therapy Developed by Carl Rogers, client-centered therapy is a form of humanistic therapy. The therapist listens to the needs of the patient in an accepting and non-judgmental way, addressing problems in a productive way and building his or her self-esteem.

Humanistic Therapy The therapist engages in active listening and echoes, restates, and clarifies the patient’s thinking, acknowledging expressed feelings. Michael Rougier/ Life Magazine © Time Warner, Inc.

Homework Read p. 642 -650 “Psychoanalysts acknowledge the criticism that their interpretations cannot be proven or disproven. But they insist that interpretations often are a great help to patients. Psychoanalysis, they say, is therapy, not science. ” - David Myers