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