Download Class 21 - Therapy - Napa Valley College

Psychology 1100
Introduction to Psychology
Christopher Gade, PhD
Office: Bertrand 27
Office hours: MW 1:30-3:30 and by apt
Email: [email protected]
Class MW 9:25-10:40 Angelico 226
John P
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John has recently developed a debilitating fear for his life.
He sees every stranger on the street as a possible threat to his
life, and is constantly vigilant for any behavior around him
that might be reflective of hostility. He has also developed a
desperate need to remove himself from his surroundings
whenever possible. Whereby, he hides himself in his room,
the only place he feels mildly safe nowadays. This fear of
his environment has resulted in John lashing out at times, and
has caused him to almost hurt several innocent bystanders
that have passed him on the street. John is so distraught by
his new life. He is thinking of running away. Running away
from the fear and the threat of violence.
Gary C
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Gary is so very tired. He’s been off to war for longer
than he can remember. He sees death and pain all
around him. Even in his dreams Gary encounters
gunfight and tragedy. He tries to stay as calm as
possible in this horrid environment that he finds
himself in, but Gary is always on edge, and always
prepared to fight, or even kill, at only a moment’s
notice. Anything can set him off, but Gary
understands that this is how it must be in this world.
He just hopes that some day, he can go home.
Susan O
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Susan is a 33 year old mother of three. She lives in a small,
suburban home with her loving husband and children. Susan
has a lucrative and promising job at her local bank, and has
been climbing the ladder of success for years. Susan has also
recently learned that she is the daughter of God and the
messenger of his renewed communication with mankind.
However, with the understanding of the dangers associated
with this status, Susan is aware of the fact that this truth can
never be revealed to anyone. So in her free time, Susan
writes alone in solitude. These writing look like letters, but
they are in fact a message, THE message from her heavenly
father. That way, one day, long from now, God’s message
will be heard by all, and mankind will be saved.
Outcome 1
Susan O, devoted mother,
grandmother, and wife, was
found dead today in her
assisted living apartment.
Family members and friends
gathered to mourn the loss of
this beloved and generous
woman. “It was as if she was a
direct descendent of our Lord”
one mourner remarked,
drawing upon the quirky, but
heartfelt and selfless life that
this great woman led. Susan O
will remain in all of our hearts
for generations to come.
Outcome 2
A family of five was discovered
in their house early yesterday
morning. All but one of the
bodies were found mutilated on
the floor of their kitchen. The
fifth body, belonging to a woman
named Susan O, was found in the
front lawn, with a gunshot wound
to the head. In her hands were
the gun that was used in the
attack, a collection of scribbled
notes containing unintelligible
communications and ramblings,
and a letter stating that her
actions were the work of God.
Defining Abnormal Behavior
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Any behavior that leads to
distress (including distress to
others), disability (impaired
functioning), or an increased
risk of death, pain, or loss of
freedom.
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APA
A display of undesirable
thoughts and behaviors that is
significantly different from the
average and interferes with
one’s life.
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Textbook
The influence of culture
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To determine if one’s behavior is “abnormal”, we
must first examine the culture that the behavior is
occurring in
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Football players
Female “demonic possessions” in Sudan
Different cultures also may illicit certain
“abnormal” behaviors through their customs and
shared learning

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“brain fag” syndrome in sub-Saharan Africa
“multiple personalities” in Western cultures
The Job of Therapists
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Detect individuals that are displaying abnormal
behavior
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Describe and define the abnormal behaviors of
the individual
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Identify when these individuals will be a danger
to the community
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Provide help for the individuals
How do we define abnormal
behavior in the clinical community?
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Early Attempts:
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List of characteristics based on case studies
Individual definitions
New Attempts:
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Uniform definitions and standards for diagnosis
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM)
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Lists the accepted labels for all identified psychological
disorders and describes their most widely used and
beneficial treatments
Problems with the DSM

Differentiating normal from abnormal (most
people often fall on a continuum of sanity,
not into a category)
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The manifestation of disorders often vary
across individual (both in the intensity and
the symptoms of the disorder), the DSM
doesn’t take this into account
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An X number of symptoms are required
Symptoms must last X number of months
Other Problems with the DSM
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A number of the disorders listed are
extremely arbitrary

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Homosexuality example
Autism and Aspergers example
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Situational factors are often not taken
into account
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Almost anyone seeking help is
diagnosed with a mental disorder
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The DSM only detects disorders, it
doesn’t tell us everything important
about the individuals being diagnosed
But regardless of its shortcomings…
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The DSM is used in almost every reputable clinic
today
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It has provided us with a time saving, extremely
effective way of diagnosing and treating mental
disorders
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It is continually adapting and changing in order to be
more accurate, effective, and reflective of our society
and the mental disorders that are found in it
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There is no sign that we will discontinue the use of
this manual in the near future
Onto The Next Step
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In the first half of class
we’ve discussed
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the means of defining
abnormal behaviors and
mental disorders
Now we’ll discuss current
treatment of mental
disorders

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Biomedical approach
Psychological approach
Biomedical Approach

Main goal: changing some
aspect of our
physiological functioning
in order to treat a disorder

Belief: certain mental
disorders are disease
and/or biologically based.
Therefore, treatment must
be physical or biological
in nature.
Main forms of Biomedical Treatment
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Medication
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Based on the notion that there is a neurochemical
cause behind a disorder
Prevalence of medication in the community
Questions about the long term value of medication
Overmedication problems
Addiction problems
Psychosurgery
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Based on the notion that disorders are caused by
physical abnormalities
Used to treat severe mental problems
Lobotomies, removal of tumors, growths, etc.
Psychological Approach (Psychotherapy)

Psychotherapy: a treatment of psychological
disorders by methods that include a personal
relationship between a trained therapist and a
client.

Based on the belief that a number of mental disorders
can be treated through a therapeutic/conversational
approach.

Main goal: changing some aspect of our
thinking/thought processing to treat a mental disorder.
Psychoanalysis
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Based on identifying
unconscious thoughts and
emotions and bringing
them to consciousness to
help people understand
their thoughts and
actions.
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Exploration of present and
past
Different techniques
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Free associations
Dreams
Hypnosis
Interactive, expensive, and
long process
Behavior Therapy
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A treatment technique that
begins with clear, well-defined
behavioral goals, and then
attempts to achieve those goals
through learning and the
strengthening of behavioral
connections.
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Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Used only for specific disorders
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e.g. anxiety disorders, drug abuse,
and anorexia/bulimia
Cognitive Therapy
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A treatment technique that seeks to improve
people’s psychological well-being by changing
their thoughts and beliefs
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Rational-emotive behavior therapy – assumes that
thoughts lead to emotions. The problem therefore is
not the unpleasant emotions themselves, but the
irrational thoughts that lead to them.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy – a form of behavioral
therapy that also includes an emphasis on changing
one’s interpretation of their situation that they are
experiencing.
Humanistic Therapy
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Based on the belief that
people can fix their own
mental disorders, and that
they are often a product of
misperceptions or an
incongruence of selves
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Assumes that patients are
the only ones that can detect
and reach their full potential
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Person-centered therapy
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Pioneered by Carl Rogers
Incorporate total acceptance and
unconditional positive regard of
the patient in therapy sessions
Other Kinds of Psychotherapy
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Family systems therapy
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Eclectic therapy
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Brief therapy
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Group therapy
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Self-help groups
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Hypnosis
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Virtual reality therapy?
Therapy related questions
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Read the text in order to
look at answers to the key
questions listed below.
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Does therapy help?
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What is the best therapy
technique?
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Why even see an experienced
therapist?
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What is essential for a
successful therapy
experience?
That’s all for today…
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In the next class, we’ll
be discussing specific
disorders.
See you then.