Therapy Approaches
The Person Centered approach to treatment that thrives on the idea that everyone is capable of reaching their full potential. This approach recognizes that the "self concept" is a central component of our total experience and influences both our perception of the world and perception of oneself.
Unlike other therapies the client is responsible for improving his or her life, not the therapist. This is a deliberate change from both psychoanalysis and behavioral therapies where the patient is diagnosed and treated by a doctor. Instead, the client consciously and rationally decides for themselves what is wrong and what should be done about it. The therapist is more of a friend or counselor who listens and encourages on an equal level.
Person Centered therapy operates according to three basic principles that reflect the attitude of the therapist to the client:
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The therapist is congruent with the client.
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The therapist provides the client with unconditional positive regard.
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The therapist shows empathetic understanding to the client.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps a client by focusing on changing the way he or she thinks and acts. In this approach to treatment a client is encouraged to discuss how he or she views him or herself, other people, and the world. The client will also be encouraged to explore how actions affect how he or she thinks and feels.
The "cognitive" portion of therapy helps a client change the way he or she thinks. Making the positive changes into action is the “behavior” aspect.
This type of therapy can be helpful for clients who are dealing with drug abuse, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. It is also commonly used for clients who seek help with eating disorders.
CBT differs from other approaches because it concentrates on the issues and concerns that a client is facing right now instead of delving deeply into his or her past. Instead. CBT looks for immediate strategies a client can use to improve his or her outlook on a daily basis.
The goal of CBT is not to remove the problems or issues which a client is facing, but rather to help him or her manage them in a better way. This treatment approach is especially effective for clients who are living with anxiety and depression, and it can be used in conjunction with medications prescribed to treat these conditions.
Strained familial relationships are treated with Family Systems therapy. This approach is helpful for various situations, including issues around communication, roles and expectations in the relationship, grief and loss, and parenting styles. It can also be helpful when blending families or in cases where couples or families need help to achieve and maintain an emotional connection.
The underlying theory of family systems therapy is that all of a person’s emotions and ways of relating to others are learned through the relationships which he or she has growing up. The key to understanding a person's behaviors is acknowledging the personal experiences a person has in his or her family of origin.
Family Systems therapy observes the client's present situation through the light of his or her past relationships. The family is considered a single emotional unit which has several relationships which are connected over several generations, in this approach. Genetics, biology, hormones, and feelings influence family relationships and a client's perspective on them. These factors guide and influence human life.
The more that a person works to understand how his or her family of origin influenced their self-esteem and behavior, he or she will become more relaxed in all personal relationships. Family Systems therapy aims to allow the client to become a more flexible parent, marriage partner, worker & member of the community.
Solution-Focused therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach dedicated to exploring solution building rather than problem solving. While assisting the client in identifying his or her's preferred future, solution-focused therapy demonstrates that the solution may not be as complex as the problem. In this approach the problem plays a minimal role in the interview process.
Finding ways for the client to desctie future goals is vital to Solution-Focused therapy. Examining the clients strengths and resources available to them is also an important part of the process. The clearer the client is about his or her goals the more successful the therapy proves to be. This collaborative approach is conducted through observing responses to precisely constructed questions.
When a person is diagnosed with a mental illness, it’s not uncommon for the client and his or her family members to have questions about it. Psychoeducation is when a trained professional provides information to the client and the people closest to him or her about a psychological condition. It is commonly used when a person has been diagnosed with one of the following:
• Anxiety Disorder • Clinical Depression • Eating Disorder • Personality Disorder • Schizophrenia
It can be very distressing to hear that a loved one has been diagnosed with a psychological disorder, and the goal of the therapist who is conducting a psychoeducation session is to help them accept the client’s diagnosis and answer any immediate questions they may have. When explaining the diagnosis to the client directly, a professional will need to consider the client’s ability to understand his or her diagnosis and treatment options. If their first response to the news is shock and/or denial, great care needs to be taken not to overwhelm the client or his or her family members with too much information at once.
Follow-up sessions may be scheduled where the client and family members receive information about the illness and the treatment options available. The client will learn about whether medication would be helpful and if referrals to other healthcare providers will be made to provide treatment. The ultimate goal of psychoeducation is to give the client the information he or she needs to live well with his or her psychological condition.