3) Psychological therapies Flashcards
What are the three learning theories?
Classical conditioning, operant conditioning and social learning theory
What is classical conditioning?
Associations between different (and unrelated) stimuli can be made when the stimuli repeatedly occur together. Force of habit
What is operant conditioning?
Behaviour is shaped by consequences e.g. reward and punishments
What is social learning theory?
Learning through observing other people’s behaviour and what the consequences are
What is the aim of cognitive behaviour therapy?
Changing maladaptive thoughts, beliefs and behaviour
What techniques are used in CBT?
Scheduling activities
Exposure to feared situations
Education and challenging negative thoughts
What conditions is CBT used for?
Depression
Anxiety
Eating disorders
Sexual dysfunction
What do people need to be if taking part in CBT?
Active, engaged and seeking solutions
What is the aim of psychoanalytic therapy?
Address unconscious conflicts and resolve previous painful experiences
What techniques are used in psychoanalytic therapy?
Explores feelings and attempts to enhance insight into difficulties
What conditions is psychoanalytic therapy suitable for?
Interpersonal difficulties
Personality problems
What do people need to be if taking part in psychoanalytic therapy?
Able to tolerate mental pain and have interest in self exploration
What is the aim of systemic and family therapy?
Focuses on relational context and addresses patterns of interaction
Can be used with children and their families
What techniques are used in systemic and family therapy?
General counselling skills (empathy, warmth)
What things are systemic and family therapy suitable for helping with?
Life events
Mild depression
Anxiety
Marital difficulties
What needs to be considered before choosing a therapy?
Both the problem (nature and severity) and the patient
When do anxiety disorders occur?
When future focussed fear leads to a behavioural change and avoidance of the threat
Give some examples of anxiety disorders:
Panic disorder
OCD
Generalised anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder
When are anxiety disorders a problem?
When the threat doesn’t exist i.e. is psychological and brain can’t distinguish between physical and psychological
What are some signs of anxiety disorders?
Racing thoughts
Inability to concentrate
Attentional focus on threat
How could CBT be used to help with anxiety?
Reducing avoidance
Ceasing safety seeking behaviours e.g. going to one shop
Exposure
Testing beliefs
What things can help a patient to heal?
Confiding relationship with helpful person
A healing setting
Combating patient’s sense of alienation
Providing opportunities and learning experiences
What is psychotherapy?
Systematic use of a relationship between a therapist and a patient to produce changes in feelings, cognition and behaviour
