Chapter – 5

Therapeutic Approaches

In this post we have given the detailed notes of class 12 Psychology Chapter 5 (Therapeutic Approaches) in English. These notes are useful for the students who are going to appear in class 12 board exams.

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Chapter 5: Therapeutic Approaches

Introduction

• This chapter explores various therapeutic methods used by psychotherapists to help patients with psychological disorders.
• There are different types of psychotherapy, some focusing on self-understanding and others on taking action.  
• The goal is to help the patient overcome their condition.  
• The effectiveness of a therapeutic approach depends on factors like the severity of the disorder, the distress faced by others, and the availability of resources.  

Nature and Process of Psychotherapy

• Psychotherapy is a voluntary relationship between the client (the person seeking treatment) and the therapist (the one who treats).  
• The goal is to help the client solve their psychological problems.  
• The relationship is built on trust, allowing for open discussion of problems.  
• Psychotherapies aim to change unhelpful behaviours, reduce personal distress, and help the client adapt better to their environment.  
• All psychotherapeutic approaches are corrective and involve an interpersonal relationship between the therapist and the client.  
• Some therapies are directive (like psychodynamic therapy), while others are non-directive (like person-centered therapy).  
• All psychotherapies involve the systematic application of principles from different theories of therapy.  
• Only trained professionals should practice psychotherapy.  
• The therapeutic relationship is confidential, interpersonal, and dynamic.  

Goals of Psychotherapy

• Reinforce the client’s desire for improvement.  
• Reduce emotional pressure.  
• Help the client realize their potential for positive growth.  
• Modify habits.  
• Change thinking patterns.  
• Increase self-awareness.  
• Improve interpersonal relationships and communication.  
• Facilitate decision-making.  
• Help the client become aware of their choices in life.  
• Enable the client to relate to their social environment in a more creative and self-aware way.  

Therapeutic Relationship

• The therapeutic relationship, or alliance, is the special bond between the client and the therapist.  
• It is not a casual acquaintance or a permanent relationship.  
• The alliance is contractual, with both parties willing to work towards helping the client overcome their problems.  
• It has a limited duration, lasting until the client can manage their problems independently.  
• The relationship is characterized by trust, allowing the client to confide in the therapist.  
• The therapist fosters this trust by being accepting, empathetic, genuine, and warm.  
• The therapist provides unconditional positive regard, accepting the client without judgment.  
• Empathy is crucial, enabling the therapist to understand and feel the client’s experiences.  
• Confidentiality is essential, with the therapist respecting the privacy of the client’s disclosures.  
• The relationship is professional and should remain so.  

Types of Therapies

• Psychotherapies can be broadly classified into three groups: psychodynamic, behaviour, and existential therapies.  
• Psychodynamic therapy focuses on internal psychological conflicts.  
• Behaviour therapy addresses faulty learning of behaviours and thoughts.  
• Existential therapy explores questions about the meaning of life and existence.  

Behaviour Therapy

• Behaviour therapies focus on the client’s current Behaviour and thoughts.  
• The past is only relevant for understanding the origins of faulty patterns.  
• The goal is to correct faulty behaviours and thought patterns in the present.  
• Behavioural analysis is used to identify problematic behaviours, their causes, and the factors that maintain them.  
• Treatment aims to replace unhealthy behaviours with adaptive ones.  
• Techniques include:
  • Negative reinforcement: Strengthening Behaviour by removing or avoiding something unpleasant.  
  • Aversive conditioning: Associating an unwanted Behaviour with an unpleasant consequence.  
  • Positive reinforcement: Increasing a desired Behaviour by rewarding it.  
  • Token economy: Using tokens as rewards for desired behaviours, which can be exchanged for privileges or treats.  
  • Relaxation procedures: Techniques like progressive muscle relaxation and meditation to reduce anxiety.  
  • Differential reinforcement: Increasing desired behaviours while decreasing unwanted ones.  
  • Systematic desensitization: Gradually exposing the client to feared situations while they are relaxed to overcome phobias.  
  • Modelling: The client learns by observing and imitating a role model.  

Cognitive Therapy

• Cognitive therapies focus on irrational thoughts and beliefs as the cause of psychological distress.  
• The Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) by Albert Ellis emphasizes the role of irrational beliefs in shaping negative emotions and behaviours.  
• The therapy challenges and helps change these irrational beliefs.  
• Aaron Beck’s cognitive therapy focuses on identifying and modifying negative automatic thoughts and cognitive distortions.  
• The goal is to achieve cognitive restructuring and reduce psychological distress.  

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

• CBT is a popular therapy that combines cognitive and Behavioural techniques.  
• It takes a biopsychosocial approach, considering biological, psychological, and social factors.  
• CBT is effective for various disorders and is known for being short and easy to use.  

Humanistic-Existential Therapy

• Humanistic-existential therapies address feelings of loneliness, alienation, and lack of meaning in life.  
• They emphasize personal growth and self-actualization.  
• Self-actualization is the innate drive to become a more complex, balanced, and integrated person.  
• The therapy provides a supportive environment for clients to express their emotions and achieve self-actualization.  
• The therapist acts as a facilitator, and the client is responsible for their own growth and healing.  

Existential Therapy

• Victor Frankl’s Logotherapy focuses on helping clients find meaning and purpose in their lives.  
• It emphasizes the spiritual dimension of human existence and the importance of meaning-making.  
• The therapist encourages the client to take responsibility for their life and find meaning in their experiences.  

Client-Centered Therapy

• Carl Rogers’ client-centered therapy emphasizes empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness from the therapist.  
• The therapist creates a safe space for the client to explore their feelings and experiences.  
• The focus is on the client’s self-discovery and personal growth.  

Gestalt Therapy

• Gestalt therapy aims to increase self-awareness and self-acceptance.  
• Clients are encouraged to recognize and express their emotions and bodily processes.  

Factors Contributing to Healing in Psychotherapy

• Effective techniques and their proper implementation.  
• The therapeutic alliance and the support it provides.  
• Catharsis, or emotional unburdening.  
• Non-specific factors related to the client (motivation, expectations) and the therapist (positive nature, mental health).  

Ethics in Psychotherapy

• Informed consent, confidentiality, alleviating distress, professional integrity, respect for human rights, and professional competence are crucial ethical standards.  

Alternative Therapies

• Alternative therapies offer treatment options beyond conventional methods.  
• Yoga and meditation have gained popularity for managing psychological distress.  
• Yoga involves physical postures (asanas), breathing practices (pranayama), or a combination of both.  
• Meditation involves focusing attention on breath, an object, a thought, or a mantra.  
• Vipasana meditation involves mindful observation of bodily sensations and thoughts.  
• Research suggests that certain yoga and meditation techniques can be effective in treating stress, anxiety, depression, and other conditions.  

Rehabilitation of the Mentally

• Rehabilitation aims to help patients with severe mental disorders improve their quality of life and become self-sufficient.  
• It involves occupational therapy, social skills training, cognitive retraining, and vocational therapy.  

Key Terms

• Alternative therapy: Treatment options besides conventional medicine or therapy, like yoga, meditation, and acupuncture.  
• Behaviour therapy: Focuses on changing current unhealthy behaviours and thought patterns.  
• Client-cantered therapy: A humanistic therapy where the therapist provides a supportive environment with empathy, acceptance, and genuineness.  
• Cognitive Behaviour therapy (CBT): A popular therapy that combines techniques for changing both thoughts and behaviours.  
• Empathy: The therapist’s ability to understand and share the client’s feelings and experiences.  
• Gestalt therapy: Aims to increase self-awareness and self-acceptance by helping clients recognize and express their emotions and bodily processes.  
• Humanistic therapy: Focuses on personal growth and self-actualization, providing a supportive environment for clients to explore their potential.  
• Psychodynamic therapy: Explores past experiences and unconscious conflicts to understand current psychological difficulties.  
• Psychotherapy: A general term for treating mental health conditions by talking with a mental health professional.  
• Rehabilitation: The process of helping people with mental illness recover and improve their quality of life.  
• Resistance: In psychoanalysis, it refers to a client’s unwillingness to face uncomfortable thoughts or feelings. (Note: The provided text doesn’t explicitly define “resistance,” but it’s a core concept in psychodynamic therapy.)  
• Self-actualization: Reaching one’s full potential; a key concept in humanistic therapies.  
• Therapeutic alliance: The trusting relationship between the client and therapist.  
• Unconditional positive regard: The therapist’s complete acceptance of the client, without judgment.  

Summary

• Psychotherapy is a diverse field with various approaches to treating psychological distress.  
• The main types of psychotherapy include psychoanalysis, behavioural, cognitive, and humanistic-existential therapies.  
• Key components of psychotherapy are clinical formulation, therapeutic alliance, and the therapist’s professional training.  
• Alternative therapies like yoga and meditation can be effective for certain disorders.  
• Rehabilitation is essential for improving the quality of life for individuals with severe mental disorders.  

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