30. Therapy Theories

Question 1

A theory that looks at change at early unresolved, unconscious, issues with clients from their childhood and past

Also called insight-oriented therapy, help clients understand why they do something or act a certain way

Transference is also based on relationships of client-professional relationship (defense mechanisms is key)

Uses a non-directive approach, based on free-association (client-driven) and good for high-functioning clients, often clients with relationship problems

Answer 1

Psychodynamic Theory

Question 2

A type of therapy that believes change happens through reinforcements and punishments of external forces, mostly known in working with children with problematic behaviors

Start by identifying problem, monitoring behavior, and then reinforce desired behavior

Answer 2

Behavioral Therapy

Question 3

Something is added to increase the likelihood of a behavior

Example: giving a child a toy if they clean their room

Answer 3

Positive Reinforcement

Question 4

Something is removed to increase the likelihood of a behavior

Example: the annoying sound of car beeping sound until you fasten your seatbelt

Answer 4

Negative Reinforcement

Question 5

Something is added to decrease the likelihood of a behavior

Example: spanking a child

Answer 5

Positive Punishment

Question 6

Something is removed to decrease the likelihood of a behavior

Example: taking a toy away from child if they continue hitting someone with it

Answer 6

Negative Punishment

Question 7

A system for providing positive reinforcement to a child by giving them something for completing tasks or behaving in desired way. Things are contingent based on their behavior

Example: getting a reward if they do something they are supposed to

Answer 7

Token Economy

Question 8

The process of establishing a behavior that is not learned or performed by an individual at present, think of it as step-by-step, gradual learning

It can also be defined as the procedure that involves reinforcing behaviors that are closer to the target behavior by doing something they are supposed to do, but not fully

Example: child who starts by picking up food with fingers, then learns to grab a fork, then stabs it, then gets it from table to mouth

Answer 8

Shaping

Question 9

Type of therapy used when change happens to modify dysfunctional thinking patterns by exploring thinking patterns and beliefs

Helpful for those with anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder

The focus is on automatic thoughts clients have about themselves, others, world, and future (known as cognitive-triad)

Answer 9

Cognitive Therapy

Question 10

A type of therapy where change occurs by accessing client’s strengths and resources

It is a very brief therapy and finds out what the client wants to achieve rather than focusing on the problem

SW can ask the client “what would their life look like if they didn’t have these problems?”

Answer 10

Solution-Focused Therapy

Question 11

Change occurs through increased awareness through here-and-now, focuses on what is happening in the moment, commenting on their affect, and focusing on the client-therapist relationship (also known as the empty chair technique)

Answer 11

Gestalt Therapy

Question 12

A type of therapy that uses a systems approach and focuses on multi-generational dynamics

A SW would help map out generations of family members and their roles and how it transmits to current members and its family dynamics (look for triangulation issues)

Answer 12

Bowen Family Therapy

Question 13

A type of therapy where change happens by re-organizing family dynamics and uses a systems approach (looks at entire system that is influencing a behavior, not just the individual)

SW should look for maladaptive boundaries or enmeshed families (disengage or incest families), in-laws, and relationships which causes conflict with them

SW helps family understand their relationship, hierarchy, organization, and interactions

Answer 13

Structural Family Therapy

Question 14

A type of therapy where change happens through finding meaning of life as it is primary and most powerful purpose in life

Helps clients overcome anxiety and depression

Answer 14

Logotherapy

Question 15

A therapy which change occurs through recognizing how the world is disempowering (particularly women)

It is important to empower client so they understand they are their own rescuer and focuses on equality

Also known with eating disorders due to social forces that affect the view of themselves

Answer 15

Feminist Therapy

Question 16

A type of therapy where change happens in supporting clients to take action to address problems in their life

Useful in case management where the focus is having clients define their goals and problems

SW helps them make a concrete plan through tasks in steps and reviews their accomplishments

Helps more with lower-functioning individuals such as youth, homelessness, and schizophrenia

Answer 16

Task-Centered / Problem-Solving Therapy

Question 17

A therapy developed to treat those with big mood swings, suicide, and borderline personality disorder (often in a group setting)

Also based on mindfulness (here-and-now) process, interpersonal effectiveness in communicating with others, awareness of their emotions, calm themselves down, and general self-awareness

Answer 17

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Question 18

A theory where behavior of client is modified by environment

SW can’t separate client from their family or community due to it maintaining behaviors

To alter behaviors, then systems have to be altered (has positive or negative reinforcement)

Answer 18

Systems Theory

Question 19

A theory where the idea that a client goes out of their homeostasis due to stressor

SW focuses on helping client focus on previous or new coping strategies (think of fixing a broken air conditioner)

Answer 19

Crisis Theory