Therapy Modalities Lecture Notes

Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy)

• Definition: Treatment to help individuals identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.
• Setup: Usually involves one-on-one meetings between a licensed mental health professional and a patient or in a group setting.
• Effectiveness: Tailored to specific disorders; can be short, medium, or long-term.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

• Theory: Focuses on how individual perceptions influence reactions more than the situations themselves.
• Goals: Change distorted thoughts to more realistic ones, improving mood and behavior.
• CBT Triangle: Emphasizes solving problems and initiating behavioral changes.
• Duration: Typically short to medium-term.

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

• Emphasis: Philosophical principles that irrational beliefs lead to emotional disturbances.
• Differences from CBT: More philosophical, while CBT is evidence-based.
• Duration: Short to medium-term.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

• Application: For severe mental disorders, especially borderline personality disorder.
• Features: Includes phone coaching and skills training (mindfulness, emotional regulation, etc.).
• Duration: Medium-term.

Task-Centered Problem Solving Therapy

• Focus: Identifying and solving specific problems using structured tasks.
• Therapist Role: Directive, providing structured problem-solving strategies.
• Duration: Typically short-term.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

• Focus: Future goals rather than past problems.
• Approach: Collaborative, client-centered, exploring client strengths.
• Duration: Short-term.

Gestalt Therapy

• Focus: Present moment awareness of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
• Techniques: Empty chair technique, exaggeration exercise.
• Duration: Medium-term.

Psychoanalytic/Psychoanalysis Therapy

• Basis: Exploring unconscious mind through techniques like free association.
• Focus: Past experiences, Oedipus complex.
• Duration: Long-term, several years.

Psychodynamic Therapy

• Approach: Emphasizes therapeutic relationship, less focus on past.
• Sessions: Weekly or bi-weekly.
• Duration: Medium to long-term.

Narrative Therapy

• Concept: Focus on personal stories/narratives constructed about life experiences.
• Goal: Externalize problems, allowing clients to reauthor their narrative.
• Duration: Short to medium-term.

Sensate Focus Therapy

• Application: Couples therapy focusing on improving sexual intimacy.
• Duration: Short to medium-term.

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

• Focus: Couples therapy focusing on emotions and attachment needs.
• Goal: Strengthen emotional bonds and resolve conflicts.
• Duration: Medium-term.

Logotherapy

• Concept: Finding meaning and purpose in life.
• Application: Helps with existential frustrations.
• Duration: Short to medium-term.

Feminist Therapy

• Focus: Addressing gender equality and empowerment.
• Duration: Can be short, medium, or long-term.

Trauma-Informed Therapy

• Approach: Addresses the impact of trauma, focusing on safety and empowerment.
• Integration: Often integrates other modalities.
• Duration: Medium to long-term.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy

• Application: Treatment for PTSD involving exposure to trauma memories.
• Duration: Short to medium-term.

Exposure Therapy

• Application: Treats anxiety disorders with systematic desensitization.
• Duration: Short to medium-term.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

• Technique: Involves eye movements while focusing on traumatic memories.
• Duration: Medium-term.

Study Tips

• Focus on "Jeopardy" style questions: identifying therapy based on descriptions.
• Match therapy modalities to specific disorders or techniques (e.g., empty chair with Gestalt).
• Consistent study routine: two practice questions daily, one practice exam monthly.
• Find a study buddy to discuss and reinforce learning.