Question 4: The Goals (and Harms) of Psychotherapy

Question 1

Main Goals (4)

Answer 1

1. Do no harm or wrong to the patient→ Do your values and the values of your patient match?
2. Relieve the suffering and discomfort of the patient
3. Assist the natural healing process within people, society, and culture→1/3 of people get better over time, 1/3 stay the same, 1/3 worse when left alone.
   1ST THREE ARE SIMILAR TO THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH FOR DOCTORS!
4. Make the patient more resistive to further problems

-About a 1/3 of the success in therapy is due to the therapeutic relationship!
• Other success is due to operant conditioning, classical conditioning, and modeling (Behavior changes)

Question 2

Programs shown to be Ineffective / Harmful

Answer 2

DARE
Scared Straight
Boot Camp for Conduct Disorder
Facilitated Communication (false accusations of child abuse)