Premium Essay

Importance Of Psychotherapy

Submitted By
Words 816
Pages 4
♦ Psychotherapy can be contemplated as the art of persuasion because of its capability to convalesce the emotional state of distressed individuals and has unavoidably been influenced and molded by the social, economic, political and cultural climates in which it has been formed thus resulting in the evolution over the past 120 years into innumerable methods and schools (Knack, 2009)
♦ Clinicians conventionally functioned from within their own specific theoretical framework often to the point of being blind to other conceptualizations and possible superior interventions (Goldfried, 1980)
♦ As these approaches continued to develop and remain theoretically and scientifically productive (Boswell et al., 2010), in practice, the choice of the most …show more content…
♦ With these heated battles, during the 1940-60s, therapists were inclined to function within primarily one theoretical school but Dollard and Miller’s (1950) book on Personality and Therapy changed this perception as it was one of the first attempts to combine learning theory with psychoanalysis. Following in his footsteps was Paul Wachtel in 1977 who published Psychoanalysis and Behavior Therapy: Toward an Integration and in 1979, James Prochaska offered a transtheoretical approach to psychotherapy, which was the first attempt to create a broad theoretical framework.
♦ These efforts paid off because in 1979, Marvin Goldfried, Paul Wachtel, and Hans Strupp (Strupp & Binder, 1984) organized an association named the Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration (SEPI) as well as international publications, including SEPI's journal of Psychotherapy Integration, the Journal of Integrative and Eclectic Psychotherapy, and Integrative Psychiatry chiefly for clinicians and academicians interested in integration in psychotherapy (Goldfried, Pachankis, & Bell, …show more content…
♦ Movement towards integration is slow although theories are cited to be distinctive and dissimilar from each other there are several cohesions such as comprising the involvement of a trained therapist, a formal change process and an expectation of improvement and the experience of hope (Knack, 2009).
♦ Another factor aiding the advancement of psychotherapy integration is the “Dodo Bird Verdict” (Lubrosky, 1995). According to the “Dodo Bird Verdict” the emblematic deduction of extensive psychotherapy integration research has been that there are few significant differences in outcome among the various psychotherapies thus evidencing no one psychotherapy technique has been shown to the therapeutically superior (Lubrosky, Singer & Lubrosky, 1975).
♦ Current conceptualizations of the nature of therapeutic change are more complex and multifaceted both within and between theoretical camps because a common characteristic of the present era is the tolerance for and assimilation of formulations that were once viewed as deviant (Arkowitz, 1992; Norcross & Freedheim,

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Self-Therapy for Mental Health Workers

...Self-Therapy for Mental Health Professionals: As to research into the specific area of therapy for counsellors, there has been more attention paid to this recently. The ground breaking book by Geller, Norcross and Orlinsky (2005) The Psychotherapist's Own Psychotherapy: Patient and Clinician Perspectives’ considers the role of therapy that therapists themselves undergo. One of its aims is to “provide clinically tested and empirically grounded assistance to psychotherapists treating fellow therapists, as well as to those clinicians who seek personal treatment themselves” (Wong, 2007). Therefore the EPT will not fulfil the empirically grounded and objective approach, because it is more experiential and subjective in nature. However, the work by Hill (2005) indicates that a therapist who is undergoing therapy has a far better understanding of the process of the individual finding their self and managing their mental health (Hill, 2005). This is because the subjective is the central criteria; rather than an objective and unrealistic ideal of good mental health. The move away from the objective is one of the reasons that Hill et al (1993) revisited dream therapy not to have it interpreted objectively by a therapist, but by the individual in therapy themselves in order to have a better understanding of their self. This understanding will lead to an increased ability for the individual to resolve their mental health issues: Interpreting one’s own dream was superior to interpreting...

Words: 1786 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Psychotherapies

...Psychotherapies Samantha Collins BEH/225 October 26, 2014 Bettye Griffin Psychotherapies Psychotherapy is any psychological technique used to facilitate positive changes in a person’s personality, behavior, or adjustment. (Coon/Mitterer, 2012) There are many different approaches to psychotherapy and most therapists do not rely on just one approach. Instead, they use techniques from different approaches and modify treatment to meet each client’s psychological needs. Three main types of psychotherapy are Psychodynamic, Humanistic, and Cognitive-Behavioral, but the approach a therapist takes can be as unique as the therapists themselves can be. Psychodynamic Psychotherapy focuses on unconscious processes as they are manifested in a person’s present behavior. (Haggerty, 2014) Also known as insight-oriented therapy, the goals of psychodynamic therapy are a client’s self-awareness and understanding of the influence of the past on present behavior. In its brief form, a psychodynamic approach enables the client to examine unresolved conflicts and symptoms that arise from past dysfunctional relationships and manifest themselves in the need and desire to abuse substances. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on examining the relationships between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By exploring patterns of thinking that lead to self-destructive actions and the beliefs that direct these thoughts, people with mental illness can modify their patterns of thinking to improve...

Words: 564 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Counselling

...ASSIGNMENT 2: WHAT IS THE FOCUS ON HUMANISTIC COUNSELLING? LECTURER: PASTOR OWINO PSYCHOANALYTIC THERAPY Sigmund Freud is credited as the founder of psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic theory.  There have been a multitude of variations that have evolved and the term most often used to broadly encompass these approaches is "Psychodynamic."  Terms such as: neurosis, conflict, attachment, object relations, unconscious, defense mechanisms, id, ego, superego, drives, libido, transference, counter-transference, and countless more have emerged from this approach.  Some of the major approaches within the psychodynamic category are: Psychoanalysis (Sigmund Freud), Adlerian Psychotherapy (Alfred Adler), Analytical Psychotherapy(Carl Jung), Object Relations (Mahler, Winnicott, Fairbairn, Klein, Gutrip, Kernberg and others), and Self Psychology (Heinz Kohut). Freud's original theories were based on the conflicts that he believed were at the core of human existence.  These conflicts emerge from attempts to reconcile our biological selves with our social selves.  Aspects of these conflicts are unconscious and influence our behavior without our awareness.  Psychodynamic therapies work to make the unconscious conscious so that we can have greater insight into our needs and behavior and therefore more control over how we allow these conflicts to affect us. His therapy explores the dynamic workings of a mind understood to consist of three parts:...

Words: 2122 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Person Centred Therapy

...PYC4809 Section A 1. Person- centred Psychotherapy Carl Rogers (1920-1987) was one of the most influential pioneers and inspiration behind person-centred psychotherapy. Rogers and his colleagues where innovators that refined the concepts and methods of person-centred therapy and that would later become one of the most influential and controversial of therapeutic approaches. During the 1940’s Rogers developed nondirective counselling. His theory was developed in four stages over the span of his career. This was a new direction of counselling that highlights that the direction and locus of control in therapy were clearly centred in the client, shifting the power to the person seeking help away from the therapist. The client rather than the therapist determined the direction and goals of therapy and the therapist’s role was to help the client clarify feelings. He described his new approach in a speech in 1940, December 11 titled “Newer Concepts in Psychotherapy” as follows: “The aim of this newer therapy is not to solve one particular problem but to assist the individual to grow, so he can cope with the present problem...It relies much more heavily on the individual drive towards growth, health and adjustment...This newer therapy places greater stress on the emotional elements...then on the intellectual aspects....(It) places greater stress upon the immediate situation than upon the therapeutic relationship itself as a growth experience.”(David J. Cain, 2008...

Words: 1322 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Measuring People's Attitude Towards Psychotherapy

...1. Introduction Psychotherapy is a process focused on helping you heal and learn more constructive ways to deal with the problems or issues within your life. It can also be a supportive process when going through a difficult period or under increased stress, such as starting a new career or going through a divorce (Hawkins, 2010). Most psychotherapy tends to focus on problem solving and is goal-oriented. That means on the onset of treatment, you and your therapist decide up on which specific changes you would like to make in your life. These goals will often be broken down into smaller attainable objectives and put into a formal treatment plan (Hawkins, 2010). The purpose of this study was to explore public attitudes toward psychotherapy treatment and how they perceive importance of psychotherapy treatment, mental health issues are of ever growing importance in modern society. While there are numerous studies on the attitude of the general public toward psychiatry in general, little research has been done concerning the specific field of psychotherapy (Hawkins, 2010). 2. Literature review 2.1 History of mental illness in the Middle East 2.1.1 Pre-Islamic era: Ancient Egyptians believed that diseases were mainly because of evil spirits or wrath of gods. Their philosophy of the afterlife came from the idea that they were part of continuous cycle. Therefore, they believed in the physical continuation of the life after death. From this belief, they gave much attention...

Words: 10080 - Pages: 41

Premium Essay

Psychotherapy 2015

...Psychotherapy, treatment of mental or emotional disorders or personal problems using psychological techniques that rely heavily on verbal and emotional communication and other symbolic behavior. Psychotherapy differs in two ways from the informal help one person gives another. First, it is conducted by a psychotherapist who is specially trained and licensed or otherwise culturally sanctioned. Second, psychotherapy is guided by theories about the sources of distress and the methods needed to alleviate it. Because communication is the primary means of healing in most forms of psychotherapy, the relationship between the therapist and patient, or client, is much more important than in other medical treatments. The therapist’s personality influences the patient and may be used quite deliberately to achieve therapeutic ends. Psychotherapy is often used in conjunction with other treatments, especially psychotropic drug therapy (seePsychoactive Drug; Psychiatry). These drugs may be prescribed by a mental health professional, usually a psychiatrist (a physician who specializes in the treatment of psychological problems). (See also Mental Disorders; Mental Health.) Attempts to ameliorate emotional and mental disorders through psychological means date from ancient time. Psychotherapeutic practices based on scientific principles date from about 1772, when the Austrian physician Franz Anton Mesmer defined and used a form of hypnosis called animal magnetism. Neuroses were treated in the 19th...

Words: 3472 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Intro Counselling

...Theory of Counseling In: Philosophy and Psychology Personal Theory of Counseling ALTER THIS PAPER....IT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO TURN IT IN....USING IT VERBATIN WILL RESULT IN A 100 MARK AND IDENTIFICATION WITH ANOTHER STUDENT PAPER...IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WILL BE FOUND TO BE COMPLETELY CHEATING AND MAY BE EXPELLED FROM YOUR UNIVERSITY...I WOULD USE IT AS A GUIDE, A LAUNCHING POINT....SOMETHING YOU COULD PARAPHRASE OR BORROW SOME IDEAS... Personal Theory of Counseling or Psychotherapy Personal Theory of Counseling or Psychotherapy Personal Theory of Counseling of Counseling or Psychotherapy Introduction This application paper will discuss my personal theory of counseling or psychotherapy in a number of different areas. Specifically, I will discuss the seven areas of interest. First, I will discuss and describe my basic view of human nature, Second, I will determine key factors that account for changes in behavior. Third, I will describe the nature of the therapist client relationship and its importance. Fourth, I will describe key functions and role of the therapist. Fifth, I will discuss the goals of therapy. Sixth, I will determine the techniques and theories of my approach. Seventh, I will discuss specific client issues best suited for my approach. (Walden University, 2012). In this paper I plan to describe and explain my own personal model for counseling. My personal model of counseling uses Gestalt Therapy, Person Centered Therapy, Existential Therapy and Adlerian Therapy...

Words: 358 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Is Psychotherapy the Answer?

...Depression is a mental health issue that has been around for decades and is still currently one of the leading causes of death among young people. There has been much research done on what could be the most effective treatment for this mental illness. Looking at depression throughout the years, the most effective treatments can be narrowed done to psychotherapy, medication, surgery, self-treatment, and etc. The most prevalent treatment mentioned is psychotherapy, as there are multiple ways to incorporate it. Although there are some negative outlooks of psychotherapy such as societies' negative views, effectiveness and availability. Research has also been done on whether religion or lack thereof can be a co-factor in depression. There are many methods to treating depression, psychotherapy being one of the most effective and efficient known treatment. Over the years, there has been extensive research done to find and understand different treatments for depression, although many have been lost through the ages. There are ways we can try and incorporate aspects of some older treatments into our more newly developed treatments to treat patients more effectively. For example, James Overholser mentions his research of a variety of treatments such as sleep therapy, hydrotherapy, drug treatment, treatment by surgery, etc that were more commonly used near the 1800s (Overholser. J, 2002). The treatments that are provided today are not as effective as doctors would like, and there is still...

Words: 3158 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Existential Psychotherapy Essay

...Existential Psychotherapy is the only branch of psychotherapy that emphasizes on intricate subjective conditions that influence our behavior. Krug, 2009, said that existentialism aims to understand people as spiritual beings in the world who make their physical, psychological, social, and interpersonal reality from their own life experiences. According to him, and other eminent contributors of existentialism, there are four basic dimensions in human life that is responsible for all emotions, and conflicts. They are : Self awareness Freedom and autonomy Making own identity and maintaining social relationships The search for meaning and purpose in life Awareness of death as an inevitable part of human life Anxiety and conflict that appears...

Words: 657 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Depression in Adolescents

...Depression in Adolescents: A Look at Effects, Causes, and Treatments Christopher Marshall Jaffe Vanderbilt University Abstract This paper describes and analyzes the very general term of depression, specifically keying on depression in adolescents. The paper is split into four main sections, the first being the definition of the problem. This section will discuss what the problem is and how it is defined in the scientific world. The second section will outline and present the effects and importance of depression on the individual, family, and society as a whole. The third section will discuss the causes of depression using theories such as the Hopelessness Theory of Depression, the Response Style Theory of Depression, and Beck’s Cognitive Theory of depression. And lastly the fourth section of this paper will discuss different treatments to the problem and their effectiveness. Definition Depression Depression has been around before the ancient Greeks and even before it got deemed “depression” the famous, “Greek physician Hippocrates, called it melancholia” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2012). It is so common in the psychological world now that some refer to it as the common cold. Depression can be described simply as, “A mood or emotional state that is marked by feelings of low self-worth or guilt and a reduced ability to enjoy life” (Encyclopedia Britannica...

Words: 2947 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Cbt Research Paper

... 2015 Option 3: Risk vs. Benefit Discuss the concept of risk versus benefit with respect to a specific Herb, supplement or CAM modality (see section 2 of Lewith for examples). Provide peer reviewed research papers to support your argument. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is one of the most common forms of psychotherapy. This is also considered a Complimentary and Alternative Medicine modality. This modality consists of cognitive and behavioral therapy. The point of cognitive therapy is to reveal and change false and distressing beliefs, which people will attach to things, events or situations, raising the importance...

Words: 638 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Personal Theory of Counseling

...ALTER THIS PAPER....IT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO TURN IT IN....USING IT VERBATIN WILL RESULT IN A 100 MARK AND IDENTIFICATION WITH ANOTHER STUDENT PAPER...IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WILL BE FOUND TO BE COMPLETELY CHEATING AND MAY BE EXPELLED FROM YOUR UNIVERSITY...I WOULD USE IT AS A GUIDE, A LAUNCHING POINT....SOMETHING YOU COULD PARAPHRASE OR BORROW SOME IDEAS... Personal Theory of Counseling or Psychotherapy Personal Theory of Counseling or Psychotherapy Personal Theory of Counseling of Counseling or Psychotherapy Introduction This application paper will discuss my personal theory of counseling or psychotherapy in a number of different areas. Specifically, I will discuss the seven areas of interest. First, I will discuss and describe my basic view of human nature, Second, I will determine key factors that account for changes in behavior. Third, I will describe the nature of the therapist client relationship and its importance. Fourth, I will describe key functions and role of the therapist. Fifth, I will discuss the goals of therapy. Sixth, I will determine the techniques and theories of my approach. Seventh, I will discuss specific client issues best suited for my approach. (Walden University, 2012). In this paper I plan to describe and explain my own personal model for counseling. My personal model of counseling uses Gestalt Therapy, Person Centered Therapy, Existential Therapy and Adlerian Therapy which I think complement one another well My Basic View of Human Nature ...

Words: 3616 - Pages: 15

Free Essay

Combined Forms of Therapy

...research is a large, multifaceted field, encompassing a wide array of disciplines. The field makes use of a variety of mechanical approaches including: surveys and questionnaires, interviews, randomized clinical trials, direct observation, and field experiments. In spite of the techniques used in the research related to behavioral science, it is not restricted to a set of disciplines or mechanical approaches. Instead, the field is defined by substantive areas of research that go beyond disciplinary and practical boundaries. In addition, several key cross-cutting themes characterize behavioral sciences research. These include: an emphasis on theory-driven research; the search for general principles of behavioral and social functioning; the importance ascribed to developmental, lifespan perspective; an emphasis on individual distinction, and distinction across socio-demographic categories such as gender, age, and socio-cultural status; and a focus on both the social and biological contexts of behavior.  With the information that is gained from research one can select a therapeutic approach that would seem to be most helpful. While all therapeutic systems have some common goals, they each have differences in the route that is used to achieve them. Some therapies insist on direct and active part of the counselor, while others place value on the client being the one who is active. Some therapies place their attention on what the client is feeling, while others focus on identifying cognitive...

Words: 1043 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Evaluate the Claim That Person-Centred Therapy Offers the Therapist All That He/She Will Need to Treat Clients.

...Evaluate the claim that Person-Centred Therapy offers the Therapist all that he/she will need to treat clients. Contents Introduction Carl Rogers. Background and Influences Theoretical Constructs Strengths and Weaknesses Conclusion Notes References Introduction In this essay I will be discussing the viability of Person-Centred Therapy as an exclusive method of treatment for clients. Without an appreciation of this approach it would be difficult to judge the merits of the claim as laid out in the main essay title. Therefore I will begin with an introduction to Carl Rogers, his background and influences. In this essay I will explore the main theoretical constructs. Following on from this I will look at the advantages of this approach and consider its success in treating psychological disorders. Although Carl Rogers inspired many, he was not without his Critics. Therefore I will include the difficulties and doubts expressed by other Practitioners in order to get an opposing viewpoint. I will end with my evaluation of the claim itself and the reasons why I have arrived at my conclusions. Carl Rogers Background and Influences Carl Rogers was born in Illinois, Chicago, in 1902. His parents were middle-class, respectable and hard-working. His Father was a Civil Engineer and his Mother a stay-at-home housewife. Carl was the fourth child in a family of six children. Rogers’...

Words: 3628 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

Evaluating Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

...Evaluating Psychodynamic psychotherapy Posted March 10, 2006 by Yousif Al Saif • Updated March 13, 2006 Sigmund Freud is one of the founding fathers of modern psychology. He started his work in psychiatry after finishing his medical training in Vienna. He was taught in Paris by one of the most influential psychiatrist in his time Charcot. Charcot tackled hysteria by using hypnosis as a treatment technique. Freud, however, thought that hypnosis is not an effective treatment approach to hysteria and decided to pursue another approach. He later adopted a method of treatment called "free association" where the client says whatever comes to his/her mind and used the resulting stream of strong conscious emotions as a helpful way to his patients (McLeod, 1998). Freud also used dream analysis as a way to enter the subconscious and unveil the suppressed thoughts and memories of patients (Freud, 1900). He also noted key psychotherapeutic phenomenons such as the client-therapist’s “transference” and “counter-transference” and the client’s “resistance”. Freud theories went through considerable modification by the neo-Freudians such as Carl Jung, Otto Rank, and Alfred Adler. Now some psychotherapists base their work broadly on Freud’s work but mainly on neo-Freudians which is called the psychodynamic approach to psychotherapy. The psychodynamic approach gives great importance to childhood experiences and believes that the client’s psychological problems are a direct result of these experiences...

Words: 1894 - Pages: 8