Invitation to Psychology

432 Chapter 12 Approaches to Treatment and Therapy

The kinds of psychotherapy that we have dis-

cussed are all quite different in theory, and so are

their techniques (see Table 12.2). Yet in practice,

many psychotherapists draw on methods and ideas

from various schools, treating clients with what-

ever methods they feel are most effective. One

Internet-based survey of more than 2,400 psycho-

therapists found that two-thirds said they practice

cognitive-behavioral therapy and that the single

most influential therapist they followed was Carl

Rogers and that they often incorporate ideas of

mindfulness and acceptance (Cook, Biyanova,  &

Coyne, 2009).

All successful therapies, regardless of their

approach, share a key element: They are able to

motivate the client into wanting to change, and

they replace a client’s pessimistic or unrealistic life

narrative with one that is more hopeful or attain-

able (Howard, 1991; Schafer, 1992).

Explore the Concept Key Components of

Psychoanalytic, Humanistic, Behavior, and Cognitive

Therapies at MyPsychLab

mother’s sympathy. Perhaps it keeps Murray from

facing his greatest fear: that if he finishes his work,

it will not measure up to his father’s impossibly

high standards. The therapist will not only help

Murray change his work habits, but will also help

his family deal with a changed Murray.

taBLe 12.2 the Major Schools of therapy Compared

primary Goal Methods

psychodynamic Insight into unconscious

motives and feelings that

create and prolong symptoms

Probing unconscious motives and fantasies,

exploring childhood experiences, examining

issues and emotions raised by transference

Cognitive-Behavioral

Behavioral Modification of self-defeating

behaviors

Graduated exposure and flooding, systematic

desensitization, behavioral records, skills training

Cognitive Modification of irrational or

unvalidated beliefs

Prompting the client to test beliefs against

evidence; exposing the faulty reasoning in

catastrophizing and mind-reading; sometimes

helping the client accept unpleasant thoughts

and feelings and live with them, instead of

trying to eradicate them

humanist and existential

Humanist Insight; self-acceptance and

self-fulfillment; new, more

optimistic perceptions of

oneself and the world

Providing empathy, unconditional positive

regard, and a nonjudgmental setting in which

to discuss issues

Existential Finding meaning in life and

accepting inevitable losses

Varies with the therapist; philosophic

discussions about the meaning of life, the

client’s goals, finding the courage to survive

loss and suffering

Family and Couples

Family Modification of family patterns May use any of the preceding methods to

change family patterns that perpetuate

problems and conflicts

Couples Resolution of conflicts,

breaking out of destructive

habits

May use any of the preceding methods to

help the couple communicate better, resolve

conflicts, or accept what cannot be changed

© The New Yorker Collection 2005. Jack Ziegler from cartoonbank.com. All Rights Reserved

“I’ve been a cow all my life, honey.

Don’t ask me to change now.”