Chapter 13: Methods of Therapy
Aversive conditioning
a behavior therapy technique in which undesired responses are inhibited by pairing repugnant or offensive stimuli with them
Social skills training
a behavior-therapy method for helping people in their interpersonal relations that utilizes self-monitoring, behavior rehearsal, and feedback
Modeling
a behavior-therapy technique in which a client observes and imitates a person who approaches and copes with feared objects or situations
Token economy
a controlled environment in which people are reinforced for desired behaviors with tokens (such as poker chips) that may be exchanged for privileges
Humanistic therapy
a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the client's subjective, conscious experience in the "here and now"
Cognitive therapy
a form of therapy that focuses on how clients' cognitions (e.g., expectations, attitudes, beliefs) lead to distress and may be modified to relieve distress and promote adaptive behavior
Ego analyst
a psychodynamically oriented therapist who focuses on the conscious, coping behaviour of the ego instead of the hypothesized, unconscious functioning of the id
Wish fulfillment
in dreams, the acting out of ideas and impulses that are repressed when one is conscious
Successive approximations
in operant conditioning, a series of behaviors that gradually become more similar to a target behavior
Catharsis
in psychoanalysis, the expression of repressed feelings and impulses to allow the release of the psychic energy associated with them
Free association
in psychoanalysis, the uncensored uttering of all thoughts that come to mind
Biofeedback training (BFT)
the systematic feeding back to an organism of information about a bodily function so that the organism can gain control of that function
Resistance
the tendency to block the free expression of impulses and primitive ideas—a reflection of the defense mechanism of repression
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
treatment of disorders like major depression by passing an electric current (that causes a convulsion) through the head
Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT)
Albert Ellis's form of therapy that encourages clients to challenge and correct irrational expectations and maladaptive behaviors
Describe methods of biological therapy—their benefits and side effects.
Antipsychotic drugs help many people with schizophrenia by blocking the action of dopamine. Antidepressants help many people by increasing the action of serotonin. Lithium often helps people with bipolar disorder. The use of antianxiety drugs for daily tensions is controversial because people build tolerance and do not learn to solve their problems. ECT, another controversial treatment, induces a seizure and frequently relieves severe depression. The prefrontal lobotomy is a form of psychosurgery that attempts to alleviate agitation by severing nerve pathways in the brain but has been largely discontinued because of side effects.
Define behavior therapy and identify various behavioral approaches to therapy.
Behavior therapy relies on principles of learning to help clients develop adaptive behavior patterns and discontinue maladaptive ones. These include systematic desensitization, modeling, and aversive conditioning. Virtual therapy is a new method for desensitizing patients to fears. Operant conditioning methods include token economies, successive approximation, social skills training, and biofeedback training.
Client-centered therapy
Carl Rogers's method of psychotherapy, which emphasizes the creation of a warm, therapeutic atmosphere that frees clients to engage in self-exploration and self-expression
Identify various types of group therapy and discuss their advantages and disadvantages.
Group therapy is more economical than individual therapy. Moreover, group members benefit from the social support and experiences of other members. However, some clients cannot disclose their problems to a group or risk group disapproval. Specialized methods include couple therapy and family therapy.
Define cognitive therapy and describe Beck's approach and REBT.
Cognitive therapy aims to give clients insight into irrational beliefs and cognitive distortions and replace them with rational beliefs and accurate perceptions. Beck notes that clients may develop depression because they minimize accomplishments and catastrophize failures. Ellis originated rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), which holds that people's irrational beliefs about events shape their responses to them.
Psychoanalysis
Freud's method of psychotherapy
Gestalt therapy
Fritz Perls's form of psychotherapy, which attempts to integrate conflicting parts of the personality through directive methods designed to help clients perceive their whole selves
Define psychotherapy and describe the history of treatment of psychological disorders.
Psychotherapy uses psychological principles to help clients overcome psychological disorders or problems. Throughout most of history, it has been generally assumed that psychological disorders represent possession, and cruel "treatment" methods such as exorcism have been used. Asylums, mental hospitals, and community treatment are relatively recent innovations.
Define humanistic therapy and contrast its two main approaches.
Rogers' client-centered therapy uses nondirective methods: The therapist shows unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuineness. Perls's directive method of Gestalt Therapy provides exercises aimed at helping people integrate conflicting parts of their personality.
Explain whether psychotherapy works and who benefits from it.
Statistical analyses such as meta-analysis show that people who obtained psychodynamic therapy showed greater well-being, on average, than 70% to 75% of those who did not obtain treatment. Similarly, nearly 75% of the clients who obtained client-centered therapy were better off than people who did not obtain treatment. Psychoanalytic and client-centered approaches are most helpful with highly verbal and motivated individuals. Behavioral and cognitive therapies have provided strategies for treating anxiety disorders, social skills deficits, and problems in self-control. People from various cultural backgrounds may profit from different kinds of treatment.
Describe traditional psychoanalysis and short-term psychodynamic therapies.
The main method of a Freudian psychoanalysis is free association, but dream analysis and interpretations are also used. Modern approaches are briefer and more directive, and the therapist and client usually sit face to face.
Systematic desensitization
Wolpe's method for reducing fears by associating a hierarchy of images of fear-evoking stimuli with deep muscle relaxation
Prefrontal lobotomy
the severing or destruction of a section of the frontal lobe of the brain
Psychotherapy
a systematic interaction between a therapist and a client that brings psychological principles to bear on influencing the client's thoughts, feelings, or behavior to help the client overcome psychological disorders, adjust to problems in living, or develop as an individual
Psychodynamic therapy
a type of psychotherapy that is based on Freud's thinking and assumes that psychological problems reflect early childhood experiences and internal conflicts
Antidepressant
acting to relieve depression
Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT)
an approach to therapy that uses cognitive and behavioral techniques that have been validated by research
Asylum
an outmoded institution for the care of the mentally ill
Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
antidepressant drugs that work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin by presynaptic neurons, thus increasing the amount of serotonin available to the brain
Rebound anxiety
anxiety that can occur when one discontinues use of a tranquilizer
Transference
responding to one person (such as a psychoanalyst) in a way similar to how one responded to another person (such as a parent) in childhood
Psychosurgery
surgery intended to promote psychological changes or to relieve disordered behavior
Behavior therapy
systematic application of the principles of learning to the direct modification of a client's problem behaviors