Chapter 12 & Lecture 9 questions Flashcards
What were group therapies initially perceived as, and how has that perception changed over time?
Initially, group therapies were considered a necessary evil or a supplementary technique. However, over time, they have been recognized as efficient and effective.
What are the differnt approaches to group therapy, and how do they differ from one another?
The different approaches to group therapy include process groups (e.g., psychoanalytic groups) and structured groups (e.g., CBT). Process groups capitalize on the dynamics of the group, while structured groups are extensions of individual treatments and focus on teaching individual skills.
What are some common arrangements gro therapy groups in terms of size, frequency, and composition?
Most therapy groups consist of 5-10 clients and meet at least once a week fro 1.5-2 hours. They are often seated in a circle and may be heterogeneous or homogeneous, depending on the nature of the practice.
What are the curative factors that contribute to the effectiveness of group therapy?
The curative factors in group therapy include imparting information, instilling hope, universality, altruism, interpersonal learning, imitative behaviour, corrective recapitulation of the primary family, catharsis and group cohesiveness.
What are some advantages of group treatment over no treatment, and how does it compare to other forms of psychotherapy?
Reviews consistently conclude that group treatment is more effective than no treatment. However, group treatments are no more effective than other forms of psychotherapy. The major advantage of group therapy is in its efficiency an economy, making it well-suited for certain conditions like social phobia and social skills training/ assertiveness training.
How is family therapy different from involving family members in individual therapy, and what is the focus of family therapy?
Family therapy views psychological symptoms as arising from the family system and aims to promote change in the family system to alleviate symptoms. It is different from involving family members in individual therapy, which focuses on individual issues.
What is General Systems Theory, and how does it guide family therapy
General Systems Theory focuses on the relationship between individual family members and the family system. Family therapists seek to alter the family system to reduce problems and establish a new, healthy homeostasis while maintaining a focus on communication and exchanges between family members.
What are some unique aspects of family therapy, and why might it be challenging for therapists to remain detached
Family therapists need to learn family roles and the family’s idiosyncratic subculture to enhance communication or confront family members. It can be difficult for therapists to remain detached as family members may attempt to use the therapist in their power struggles or in their defense against open communication.
What are the different types of family therapy, and what are the pros and cons of each approach
The different types of family therapy include conjoint family therapy, concurrent family therapy, and collaborative family therapy. Conjoint therapy allows the entire family to be seen at the same time, providing insight into power dynamics but placing pressure on the therapist. Concurrent therapy involves individual sessions with all family members, allowing them to feel more comfortable but potentially compromising confidentiality. Collaborative therapy involves different therapists seeing each family member separately, matching therapists to clients but possibly becoming messy with too many modalities.
How does the therapeutic process vary when working with children and adolescents, and what ethical considerations are involved?
Children and youth are often brought in by adults and may not have the resources to seek, attend, and pay for services on their own. Therapists need to consider issues around consent, assent/agreement, custody, confidentiality, and access to the client’s file when working with children and adolescents.
What are some evidence-based psychotherapy relationships, and how can therapists tailor their approach to individual client characteristics?
Evidence-based psychotherapy relationships include factors like alliance, empathy, collaboration, and goal consensus. Therapists should adapt their approach based on factors such as client culture, religion, reactance/resistance level, stage of change, and coping style.
How can therapists effectively engage and motivate clients in therapy, considering the role of parents, youths, and different therapeutic techniques?
Parent motivation is necessary for children to attend services, and youth motivation is critical for change to occur. Therapists need to manage relationships with both parents and youth effectively. Therapists should also consider the impact of different therapeutic techniques on clients with varying characteristics, such as symptom severity and personality disorders.
What were the findings of Hans Eysenck’s article regarding the efficacy of psychodynamic or eclectic therapy compared to untreated clients?
Hans Eysenck’s article argued that the rates of improvement among clients receiving psychodynamic or eclectic therapy were comparable to or even greater than the rates of remission of symptoms among untreated clients.
What is a randomized controlled trial (RCT), and why is it important in determining the effectiveness of psychotherapy?
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is an experiment in which research participants are randomly assigned to one of two or more treatment conditions. Randomization helps ensure that the patients in different samples are comparable, making it easier to determine whether the therapy being tested is genuinely effective.
What is the average effect size reported by Mary Smith and Gene Glass in their meta-analysis on psychotherapy?
Mary Smith and Gene Glass reported an average effect size of d = 0.68 in their meta-analysis on psychotherapy. This means that, on average, the person receiving treatment was better off at the end of therapy than 74% of those who had not received treatment.
