Therapies

psychotherapy-treatment involving psychological techniques

• Major theories:
• 1. Psychoanalytic
• 2. Humanistic
• 3. Behavioral
• 4. Cognitive

eclectic approach-blend of therapies

• Sigmund Freud
• psychodynamic therapies

AIMS to "know thyself". Excavating through childhood memories, buried feelings --better life when releasing id-ego-superego conflicts

• METHODS: Free Association-say allowed whatever comes to mind.
• Blocks in flow of free association--resistance
• Therapist notes resistance--then interprets their meaning
• latent content --dream analysis
• transferring-feelings for other relationship transferred to therapist (love or hate feelings toward a parent)

• PSYCHODYNAMIC THEORY- individuals responding to unconscious forces from childhood experiences, enhancing self-insight
• understanding by focusing on themes across important relationships
• interpersonal psychotherapy-reaching root of difficulties, system relieft, not overall personality change

• Carl Rogers
• Humanistic therapies focus on
• -present and future > past
• -conscious > unconscious
• -taking responsibility
• -promoting growth > curing illness

• insight therapy-psychoanalytic and humanistic therapies
• client-centered therapy(non-directive)-conscious self-perceptions
• active listening-echoes, restates, clarifiing statements of what person expresses
• unconditional positive regard-caring, accepting, nonjudgemental attitude condusive to developing self awareness and acceptance

• Active listening:
• paraphrase, invite clarification, reflect feelings

behavior theory-elimination of unwanted behaviors

• Classical Conditioning Techniques:
• counterconditioning- pairs trigger stimulus with new response thats incompatible with fear
• --ex. fear of enclosed space + relaxation
• exposure therapy-exposing people to what they usually avoid; habituation
• --systematic desensitization- pleasant relaxed state gradually with anxiety-triggering stimuli; treats phobias
• --virtual reality therapy
• aversive conditioning-negative response for positive response to harmful stimulus
• --reverse systematic desensitization
• --ex. to nail biting->treat with painting nails with nasty nail polish
• Operant Conditioning:
• voluntary behaviors strongly influenced by consequences
• behavior modification-reinforced desired behaviors and witholding reinforcement for undesired behaviors or punishing them
• token economy-people earn a desired behavior and can later exchange tokens for various privliges or treats

• Concerns about behavior modification:
• 1. Practical: How durable are behaviors?
• 2. Ethical: Is it right for one human to control another's behavior?

teaching of more adaptive ways of thinking and acting; assumption that thoughts intervene between events and emotional reactions

• Beck's Therapy for Depression:
• reverse clients catastrophisizing belief about themselves, their situations, and futures.
• stress innoculation training- teaching people to restructure their thinking in stressful situations

• Cognitive-Behavior Theory
• alter the way people think(cognitive therapy) and the way they act(behavioral therapy)
• --ex. fear of social situations -> learn new ways of thinking + practice approaching people