Psychotherapy
Ch. 15
Music:
“I Wanna be Sedated”
Ramones
“Just like a Pill”
Pink
Today’s Agenda
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1. Seeking Professional Help
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When, where and how?
Which therapy works best?
2. Different Therapeutic Approaches:
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i) Psychodynamic Therapy
ii) Behavioural Therapies
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iii) Cognitive Therapy
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Distinction with CBT
iv) Client-Centered Therapy
v) Biomedical Treatments
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Example of behavioural technique
Movie: Virtual Reality Therapy (5 min.)
Movie: Deep Brain Stimulation (10 min.)
3. Basic Counseling Skills
1. Seeking Professional Help: When,
Where
and
How?
 When:
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1. You’re feeling significant levels of discomfort
2. Your functioning is impaired
3. Someone else tells you that you need help
4. Have persistent suicidal thoughts
Where do you find help?
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Ontario Psychological Association: (416) 961-0069
Your physician can refer you
Local Hospitals:
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Distress Centers: (416) 598-1211 or (416) 486-1456
Counseling and Development Center: 736-5297
York University Psychology Clinic: 650-8488
Free online mental health advice and information for young people:
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North York General 416-756-6316
Humber River Regional 416-747-3833
www.yoomagazine.net
Costs?
1. Most people don’t get the help they
need!
1. Which Therapy Works Best?
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Depends on the problem
Depends on the technique
Depends on the therapist
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But overall, studies show that different therapies
have comparable results
Common therapeutic ingredients:
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Alliance with the therapist *
Emotional support and empathic understanding:
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Allowing emotions to be expressed
Rationale for one’s problems
Gaining new insights and new coping tools
2. Different Therapeutic Approaches
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All approaches differ on:
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Assumptions regarding the origins of the problem
Therapist’s stance
Method of treatment
Goals of treatment
2. i) Psychodynamic Therapy:
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Problem: resides in unconscious conflicts, repressed memories
Therapist: “blank-screen”
Method: free-association, dream analysis, transference analysis
Goal: make the unconscious conscious
Case illustration:
2. Different Therapeutic Approaches
(cont’d)
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2. ii) Behaviour Therapy
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Problem: resides in faulty learning
Therapist: examines current conditions that elicit the
problem
Method: apply learning principles to get rid of symptoms
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training/ exposure/ counter-conditioning
Goal: alleviate symptoms/ modify behavior
2. ii) Example of Behavioural
Techniques
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a) Systematic Desensitization:
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Effective with phobias
 Use “counterconditioning”
 Steps:
 Set-up a hierarchy of anxiety-triggering situations
 Learn relaxation response
 Imagine least anxiety-provoking situation while maintaining a
relaxed state
 Imagine more difficult situations until most difficult is imagined
while maintaining a relaxed state
 Practice with real-life situations
b) “Virtual Reality Therapy for PTSD” 5 min.
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2. iii) Cognitive Therapy
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Problem: is a function of the way you
think
Therapist: more directive and
challenging
Method: Challenge your automatic
thoughts and underlying beliefs
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Use of homework exercises
Goal: Realistic thinking/ Better
perspective
p. 672
2. iii) Cognitive Therapy (cont’d)
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Examples of cognitive techniques
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Clip: Tim http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIzm4jiyvXI&feature=related
Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT):
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Combines elements of both cognitive and behavioural therapies
Recommended for depression and anxiety
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqW8p9WPweQ&feature=related
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Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy:
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Learn to watch the contents of your consciousness and to bring
attention back to the “here and now”
Prevents people from spiraling down and ruminating (getting
“caught” in their dysfunctional thinking)
2. iv) Client-Centered Therapy
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Problem: incongruence with one’s true self
Therapist: Non-directive, genuine,
empathic and unconditional
Method: therapeutic relationship allows
fuller experiencing and greater acceptance
of the self
Goal: self-actualization / greater
congruence
2. v) Biomedical Approach
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Problem:
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Therapist:
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Medical doctor (family or psychiatrist) will monitor
symptoms and adjust medication/ monitor treatment
Method: psychopharmacological drugs
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Chemical imbalance/ Structural abnormalities in the brain
Depression: Jogging, antidepressants, TMS, ECT, deep
brain stimulation
Bipolar Disorders: Mood stabilizers, neuroleptics
Anxiety: Tranquilizers
Schizophrenia: Anti-psychotics (neuroleptics)
Goal: reduce symptoms
Movie: “Deep Brain Stimulation” (10 min.)
3. Basic Counseling Skills
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Or how to better help your family and
friends:
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Try to listen and avoid giving advice
Don’t express judgment
Try to clarify the problem
Empathize with the feelings
Maintain confidentiality!
4. See you next week!