Major Schools of Psychotherapy

Question 1

Define: psychoanalysis

Answer 1

• a theory of personality and method of psychotherapy
• developed by freud
• explores unconscious motives and conflicts

Question 2

Define: psychodynamic therapy

Answer 2

-explores unconscious dynamics of personality, such as defenses and conflicts

Question 3

Features shared of modern psychodynamic techniques include (4)…

Answer 3

• discussion of past experience
• identifying recurring themes and patterns
• exploration of fantasies
• focus in contradictory emotions and feelings

Question 4

A major element of psychodynamic psychotherapy is…

Answer 4

-transference

Question 5

Define: transference

Answer 5

-the client’s transfer (displacement) of emotions of inner life outward onto the therapist

Question 6

Through analysis of transference, psychodynamic therapists believe that clients can…

Answer 6

-see their emotional conflicts in action and work through them

Question 7

Define: behavior therapy

Answer 7

-applies principles of operant and classical conditioning to help people change self-defeating behaviors

Question 8

What are 4 methods used in behavior therapy?

Answer 8

• exposure (graduated exposure, flooding)
• systematic desensitization
• behavioral self-monitoring
• skills training

Question 9

Define: graduated exposure

Answer 9

for phobias or panic attacks…
-client is gradually taken into a feared situation
-or exposed to a traumatic memory
…until anxiety subsides

Question 10

Define: flooding

Answer 10

-client is taken directly into a feared situation until panic subsides

Question 11

Define: systematic desensitization

Answer 11

• step-by-step process of desensitizing a client to their fear
• based on counterconditioning

Question 12

Define: behavioral self-monitoring

Answer 12

• keeping data of frequency and consequences of the unwanted behavior
• aim to identify reinforcers allowing behavior

Question 13

Define: skills training

Answer 13

teaching skills a client may lack, or replacing self-defeating behaviors through…

• modeling
• role-playing
• use of operant conditioning

Question 14

Define: cognitive therapy

Answer 14

• helps client identify and change irrational and unproductive ways of thinking.
• helps reduce negative emotions and their self-defeating consequences

Question 15

Another school of cognitive therapy, devised by Albert Ellis is…

Answer 15

• rational-emotive therapy

- challenges client’s unrealistic thoughts

Question 16

Emotionally upset people tend to ______ and ________.

Answer 16

• overgeneralize

- catastrophize

Question 17

Cognitive therapy encourages a client to examine the validity of…

Answer 17

-their assumptions and beliefs

Question 18

CBT practitioners, inspired by buddhism, practice a form of CBT that is based on…

Answer 18

-mindfullnes and acceptance

Question 19

In mindfulness and acceptance, clients are encouraged to…

Answer 19

• accept their thoughts and feelings without judging themselves harshly
• develop coping techniques for them

Question 20

Humanist therapy emphasizes…

Answer 20

• client’s free will to change

- the “here and now”

Question 21

Client-centered(non-directive) therapy is…

Answer 21

a humanist approach, devised by Carl Rogers. It emphasizes..

• therapists empathy
• and unconditional positive regard

Question 22

The goal of client-centered therapy is…

Answer 22

• build self-esteem and self-acceptance

- find a more productive way of seeing their problems

Question 23

The crucial ingredient in successful therapy, says Rogers, is…

Answer 23

-empathy

Question 24

Define: empathy

Answer 24

-understanding and identifying client’s feelings

Question 25

Define: existential therapy

Answer 25

-clients explore meaning of existence, face the questions of life, death, freedom, alienation, loneliness, meaninglessness

Question 26

In existential therapy, the crucial first step is…

Answer 26

-client’s assumption of responsibility for their current problems

Question 27

Define: family therapists

Answer 27

• deal with issues developed in the context of the family

- any changes affect all members of family

Question 28

Define: family-systems perspective

Answer 28

-identifying how each family member forms a part of a larger interacting system

Question 29

Define: couples therapy

Answer 29

• helps couples resolve differences, make behavioral changes to reduce anger and conflict
• help couples accept and live with qualities that are not likely to change much

Question 30

What is the benefit of psychotherapists taking an “integrative approach”?

Answer 30

-allows flexibility to treat clients with the most appropriate and effective methods