Understanding Therapy: Approaches, Goals, and Historical Perspectives
Therapy encompasses a range of psychological and biomedical techniques aimed at addressing mental disorders and improving overall functioning. Individuals seek therapy for various reasons beyond diagnosed disorders, often feeling unable to resolve problems independently. Key aspects include building trust between clients and therapists, identifying issues, and implementing treatment. Throughout history, therapy has evolved from medieval practices to modern approaches like psychotherapy, insight therapy, and behavioral therapy. Access to mental health care remains a concern, especially for disadvantaged groups and those with specific conditions.
Understanding Therapy: Approaches, Goals, and Historical Perspectives
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Presentation Transcript
What is Therapy? AP PSYCHCH 13
Therapy • Refers to a wide variety of psychological and biomedical techniques aimed at dealing with mental disorders or coping with problems of living. • Focuses on improving a person’s mental, behavioral and/or social functioning.
Going to Therapy • People seek therapy for many reasons • Not just disorders in the DSM • Feel like they cannot resolve problem themselves • Terms used for people who go to therapy: • Patient – used in medical or biological approach • Client – used for professionals who see disorders as problems in living (as opposed to a mental illness
Access issues • Group least likely to have access to medical care is the poor. • In some communities, there is a lack of qualified mental health professionals. • Illness itself may prevent care • Agoraphobia • Paranoia
Goals of Therapy • Therapists are professionally trained • Building a relationship; trust • Working together to solve a problem • Client must believe in the therapy • Therapeutic process: • Identify the problem • Identify the causes of the problem or conditions that maintain the problem • Deciding on and carrying out treatment
Types of Mental Health Care Professionals • TABLE 13.1 on page 528
History of Therapy • Medieval Europe – disorders caused by demons • “therapists” preformed exorcisms • Insane asylums • “shielded from stressors of the world” • Beatings, cold showers, abuse • Straightjackets, cages • Bethlehem Hospital in London • Spectators could pay to observe • “Bedlam” = noisy chaotic place
Modern Therapy • Psychological therapies – (collectively called psychotherapy) based on psychological principles • Include: • Insight therapy – helping people understand their problems and change their thought, motives, feelings • Behavioral therapy – changing behavior • Biomedical therapies – focus on altering the brain by the use of drugs, psychosurgery, or electroconvulsive therapy