Comparison of Psychotherapies-Discussion

Comparison of Psychotherapies-Discussion

Comparison of Psychotherapies-Discussion

Insight or Action?

Directive or Non-directive?

Individual or Group?

Therapy’s Strength

Psychoanalysis

Insight Directive Individual Searching honesty

Brief psychodynamic therapy

Insight Directive Individual Productive use of conflict

Client-centered therapy

Insight Non-directive Both Acceptance, empathy

Existential therapy

Insight Both Individual Personal empowerment

Gestalt therapy

Insight Directive Both Focus on immediate awareness

Behavior therapy

Action Directive Both Observable changes in behavior

Cognitive therapy

Action Directive Individual Constructive guidance

Rational-emotive behavior therapy

Action Directive Individual Clarity of thinking and goals

Psychodrama

Insight Directive Group Constructive re-enactments

Family therapy

Both Directive Group Shared responsibility for problems

? TABLE 15.3

Source: Adapted from Corsini & Wedding, 2011; Prochaska & Norcross, 2010.

Comparison of Psychotherapies-Discussion

Helping Behaviors

To help another person gain insight into a personal problem, it is valuable to keep the following comparison in mind:

Behaviors That Help                         Behaviors That Hinder

Active listening                                    Probing painful topics

Acceptance                                           Judging/moralizing

Reflecting feelings                              Criticism

Open-ended questioning                  Threats

Supportive statements                      Rejection

Respect                                                 Ridicule/sarcasm

Patience                                               Impatience

Genuineness                                        Placing blame

Paraphrasing                                      Opinionated statements

 

? TABLE 15.4

Adapted from Kottler & Shepard, 2011. Comparison of Psychotherapies-Discussion

9781285519517, Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior with Concept Maps and Reviews, Thirteenth Edition, Coon/Mitterer – © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. No distribution allowed without express authorization.

 

If the patient seems to be at a loss for words, restate or paraphrase his or her last sentence. Here’s an example:

Friend: I’m really down about school. I can’t get interested in any of my classes. I flunked my Spanish test, and somebody stole my notebook for psychology.

You: You’re really upset about school, aren’t you?

Friend: Yeah, and my parents are hassling me about my grades again.

You: That sucks.

Friend: Yeah.

You: That must make you angry.

As simple as this sounds, it is very helpful to someone trying to sort out feelings. Try it. If nothing else, you’ll develop a reputation as a fantastic conversationalist!

Silence

Counselors tend to wait longer before responding than do people in everyday conversations. Pauses of 5 seconds or more are not unusual, and interrupting is rare. Listening patiently lets the person feel unhurried and encourages her or him to speak freely.

Comparison of Psychotherapies-Discussion Questions

Because your goal is to encourage free expression, open-ended questions tend to be the most helpful. A closed question is one that can be answered yes or no. Open-ended questions call for an open- ended reply. Say, for example, that a friend tells you, “I feel like my boss has it in for me at work.” A closed question would be, “Oh yeah? So, are you going to quit?” Open-ended questions such as “Do you want to talk about it?” or “How do you feel about it?” are more likely to be helpful.

Open-ended questions are an effective way to begin and sustain a conversation. See Chapter 12, page 436.

 

Clarify the Problem

People who have a clear idea of what is wrong in their lives are more likely to discover solutions. Try to understand the problem from the person’s point of view. As you do, check your understanding often. For example, you might ask, “Are you saying that you feel depressed just at school? Or in general?” Remember, a problem well defined is often half solved.

Focus on Feelings

Feelings are neither right nor wrong. By focusing on feelings, you can encourage the outpouring of emotion that is the basis for catharsis. Passing judgment on what is said just makes people defensive. For example, a friend confides that he has failed a test. Perhaps you know that he studies very little. If you say, “Just study more and you will do better,” he will probably become defensive or hostile. Much more can be accomplished by saying, “You must feel very frustrated” or simply, “How do you feel about it?”

Avoid Giving Advice

Many people mistakenly think that they must solve problems for others. Remember that your goal is to provide understanding and support, not solutions. Of course, it is reasonable to give advice when you are asked for it, but beware of the trap of the “Why don’t you…? Yes, but…” game. According to psychotherapist Eric Berne (1964), this “game” follows a pattern: Someone says, “I have this problem.” You say, “Why don’t you do thus and so?” The person replies, “Yes, but…” and then tells you why your suggestion won’t work. If you make a new suggestion, the reply will once again be, “Yes, but…” Obviously, the person either knows more about his or her personal situation than you do or he or she has reasons for avoiding your advice. The student described earlier knows he needs to study. His problem is to understand why he doesn’t want to study.

Accept the Person’s Frame of Reference

Because we all live in different psychological worlds, there is no “correct” view of a life situation. A person who feels that his or her viewpoint has been understood feels freer to examine it objectively and to question it. Understanding another person’s perspective is especially important when cultural differences may create a barrier between a client and therapist (Draguns, Gielen, & Fish, 2004). (See “Therapy and Culture—A Bad Case of ‘Ifufunyane.’”)

Maintain Confidentiality

Your efforts to help will be wasted if you fail to respect the privacy of someone who has confided in you. Put yourself in the person’s place. Don’t gossip.

These guidelines are not an invitation to play “junior therapist.” Professional therapists are trained to approach serious problems with skills far exceeding those described here. However, the points

Teams of psychologists and counselors are often assembled to provide support to victims of major accidents and natural disasters. Because their work is stressful and often heart wrenching, relief workers also benefit from on-site counseling. Expressing emotions and talking about feelings are major elements of disaster counseling.

 

9781285519517, Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior with Concept Maps and Reviews, Thirteenth Edition, Coon/Mitterer – © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. No distribution allowed without express authorization.