Psychotherapy

Question 1

what are the differences between psychotherapy and pharmacology?

Answer 1

• psychotherapy: TOP DOWN from subjective experience to a neurochemical level
• pharmacology: BOTTOM UP from effects on subcortical transmitter metabolism to change in mood and cognition

Question 2

what are the basic principles of psychodynamic psychotherapy?

Answer 2

• early life experiences influence psychosocial development and current functioning
• pyschosocial history is important
• interest in internal mental life / personality structure / unconscious

Question 3

which type of psychotherapy is focused on internal mental life / personality structure / unconscious?

Answer 3

psychodynamic psychotherapy

Question 4

which type of psychotherapy is focused on repression and intrapsychic conflicts?

Answer 4

psychodynamic psychotherapy

Question 5

what are the strengths of psychodynamic psychotherapy?

Answer 5

• self understanding
• characterological and structural change
• good for PERSONALITY DISORDERS, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION

Question 6

what are the basic principles of behavioral psychotherapy?

Answer 6

• focuses on overt behaviors and environmental influences that support them
• focuses on attention on issues related to conditioning and reinforcement
• little interest in internal mental process
• emphasis on effective and rapid means of symptom reduction

Question 7

which type of psychotherapy is focused on behaviors and environmental influences that support them / attention on issues related to conditioning and reinforcement?

Answer 7

behavioral

Question 8

which type of psychotherapy has an emphasis on effective and rapid means of symptom reduction?

Answer 8

behavioral

Question 9

what are the strengths of behavioral psychotherapy?

Answer 9

• easily explained and understood
• symptom focused
• works well for anxiety, phobias, conduct disorders

Question 10

what are the weaknesses of behavior psychotherapy?

Answer 10

• cannot discuss feelings

- less effective without a cognitive component being present

Question 11

which type of psychotherapy is best for anxiety / phobias?

Answer 11

behavioral

Question 12

what are the basic principles of CBT?

Answer 12

• “how we feel is driven by what we are thinking”
• changing what people say to themselves in their head
• changing negative core beliefs

Question 13

what are the basic principles of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)?

Answer 13

• human suffering is inevitable and normal
• coming up with explanations for our feelings and actions is counterproductive
• avoiding internal experiences is counterproductive
• increases flexibility

Question 14

what are the strengths of ACT?

Answer 14

• used with wide range of problems

- very brief format

Question 15

what are the weaknesses of ACT?

Answer 15

• requires an excellent therapist

- underlying therapy can be complex and difficult to explain

Question 16

what are the basic principles of interpersonal therapy?

Answer 16

• focus on current interpersonal problems
• focus on the present social context
• focus on attention on interpersonal relationships and interaction patterns, and contributions they make to symptom formation such as grief, loss, and role transitions

Question 17

what is the gist of interpersonal therapy?

Answer 17

problems in relationships drive problems

Question 18

interpersonal therapy is beneficial for what conditions?

Answer 18

• depression, anxiety, some eating disorders

Question 19

what are the basic principles of play therapy?

Answer 19

• emotional difficulties can be worked through without use of words
• games allow patient to express the emotional problem in some way or else require the patient to engage in a behavior that is difficult for them so they can practice

Question 20

what are the basic principles of couples therapy? what is the focus?

Answer 20

• problem and goal focused
• timing is critical
• focus: contributions of each party to the couple’s difficulty (individual dynamics, attachment styles, dynamic interplay and communication styles, cultural / religious factors)

Question 21

what is the family (systems) therapy? what is the focus?

Answer 21

• symptomatic individuals are manifestations of underlying family dysfunction - family is patient
• focus: altering interactions among family members
• attention paid to boundaries, hierarchies, communication styles, intergenerational groupings and patterns

Question 22

psychological tests are sensitive to ______ and ________

Answer 22

context and time