Therapy Approaches for Psychological Disorders

1. Chapter 15 Therapy

2. Historical Trends and Models • Psychological model – psychological disorders as the result of societal stress • Disorders caused by problems in the mind • Treated by changing aspects of the person's environment and thought processes

3. Current Therapy Approaches • Evidence-based treatment (EBT) – using scientific evidence to guide approaches to treatment

4. Biological Therapies • Assumes mental disorders are medical problems • Treated like other illnesses or diseases • Includes the use of drugs, neurosurgery, and different ways of stimulating the brain

5. Drug Therapies • Psychotropic drugs – medications capable of affecting the mind, emotions, and behaviors • Most common form of treatment for psychological disorders

6. Neurosurgery • Deep lesioning – precise destruction of certain areas of the brain to reduce severe symptoms

7. Electric Therapies • Electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) – passing electrical current through the brain to intentionally cause a seizure • Effective for severe depression • Seizures may rebalances hormones and chemicals in the brain

8. Psychotherapies (1 of 2) • Psychotherapies – strategies based on belief that psychological disturbances are the result of unconscious conflicts, faulty thinking patterns, or self-defeating learned behaviors

9. Humanistic Therapies • Client-centered therapy – assumes clients more equipped to solve own problems through conversation and insight • Responsibility for treatment placed on client • Therapist’s role is to help clients help themselves

10. Cognitive Therapies • Rational-emotive therapy (RET) – cognitive therapy that helps clients overcome destructive beliefs, feelings, and behaviors

11. Group Therapies (1 of 2) • Treatment of more than one person at the same time • Benefits • Cost – less expensive • Social support – shared experiences, reduced feelings of isolation, and coping strategies • Social skills training – opportunity to practice social interaction skills in a supportive environment

12. Bibliotherapy • Bibliotherapy – a therapist’s selection of reading material for a client that has relevance to that person’s life situation

13. Technology-Based Therapies • Telecounseling – telephone communication to provide mental health education and services • E-therapies – internet and/or computer-based therapies.

14. Alternative Medicine • Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) – medical practices and products currently not part of conventional medicine • Increasing popularity

15. Therapy and Culture • Positive alliance between therapist and client is the foundation of good therapy • Cultural competence – generic set of skills and knowledge that allow therapist to work in any cross-cultural therapy environment