Supportive Psychotherapy

Question 1

What is Psychotherapy?

Answer 1

Therapeutic interaction.
Exploration of thoughts, feelings, and behaviour.
Aimd to increase the Individual’s sense of own well-being.

Question 2

Patient-centred approach

Answer 2

Based on humanistic principles that people are motivated to self-actualise.
Therapist is there to support.
Non-directive.

Question 3

Core conditions of person-centred approach

Answer 3

Empathy, unconditional positive regard, genuineness

Question 4

Empathy

Answer 4

Resonating with client’s world and being able to see things the way he or she does.
Verbally sharing your understanding.

Question 5

Positive regard

Answer 5

Non-judgemental warmth.
Attitude of valuing the client.
Unconditional althought not superficial.
Closely related to empathy as well as congruence/genuineness.

Question 6

Congruence/genuineness

Answer 6

Honesty, transparency and openness to client.

Question 7

Supportive Psychotherapy

Answer 7

Individual psychotherapy.
Focussed on presenting problem.
Can help with dealing with a transient problem in a healthy person.

Question 8

Supportive Psychotherapy : durations

Answer 8

Short term: 3-6 sessions.
Long term.
Defences are supported.

Question 9

Aim of supportive Psychotherapy

Answer 9

Maintain, restore, or improve self-esteem, ego function and adaptive skills.

Question 10

Supportive Psychotherapy: key concepts

Answer 10

Diagnostic evaluation, therapist’s actions are deliberate and designed to achieve specific objectives.

The professional psychotherapeutic relationship is not based on reciprocal equality; exists solely to meet the needs of the client.

Confidentiality is implicit in the counselling process

Conscious problems or conflicts are addressed; underlying unconscious conflicts and personality distortions are not

Defences are questioned only when they are maladaptive E.g. Compulsive habits can be useful in academic performance but are maladaptive when they rigidly cause major interference in work or relationships.

(In more expressive types of therapy, defences are identified and examined to determine the underlying conflicts that made the defences necessary in the first place).

Conversational style renders the therapeutic process an interaction, rather than an interview or interrogation

When treating a severely impaired patient, the therapist may give advice about how the patient should deal with particular issues

However, mostly advice is developed out of collaborative discussion about better ways to do things.

Accompanied by anticipatory guidance i.e. rehearsal of potential problems.

Question 11

Supportive psychotherapy indications

Answer 11

Adjustment disorders – assist in prevention of chronic symptoms.

Medical illness – with or without co-morbid mental disorders.

Substance use disorders – early therapeutic alliance to facilitate treatment retention and sobriety.

Acute bereavement.

Chronic/ terminal illness.