📘 Chapter 5: Therapeutic Approaches

🔹 Introduction

 Therapy refers to techniques used to help people who are facing psychological
disorders, emotional problems, or behavioural difficulties.

 The goal of therapy is to reduce distress, improve functioning, and promote mental
well-being.

 Therapies are based on different theoretical approaches like psychoanalytic,

behavioural, cognitive, humanistic, etc.

Keywords: Therapy, Treatment, Mental health, psychological disorders.

Q (1 mark): What is therapy?

A: Therapy is a method used to treat psychological disorders and emotional problems.

🔹 Nature and Process of Psychotherapy

Meaning of Psychotherapy

 Psychotherapy is a systematic interaction between a trained therapist and a client.

 It helps the client understand thoughts, emotions, and behaviour and bring positive
change.

Characteristics of Psychotherapy

1. It is a professional relationship.

2. Based on trust and confidentiality.

3. Uses psychological methods, not medicines.

4. Focuses on problem-solving and self-understanding.

Goals of Psychotherapy

 Reduce emotional distress

 Modify maladaptive behaviour

 Improve coping skills

 Personal growth
Keywords: Psychotherapy, Confidentiality, Professional relationship.

Q (2 marks): State two characteristics of psychotherapy.

A: It is based on trust and confidentiality and uses psychological techniques to treat mental
problems.

Q (4 marks): Explain the goals of psychotherapy.

A: The goals include reducing emotional distress, modifying maladaptive behaviour, improving
coping skills, and promoting personal growth.

🔹 Therapeutic Relationship

 Also called therapeutic alliance.

 It is the most important factor in successful therapy.

Features:

1. Empathy – understanding client’s feelings.

2. Warmth – friendly and accepting attitude.

3. Unconditional positive regard – accepting client without judgment.

4. Confidentiality – client’s information is kept private.

Keywords: Empathy, Warmth, Therapeutic alliance.

Q (1 mark): What is therapeutic alliance?

A: It is the relationship between therapist and client based on trust and understanding.

🔹 Types of Therapeutic Approaches

🔹 Psychoanalytic Therapy (Sigmund Freud)

Basic Assumptions

 Behaviour is influenced by unconscious conflicts.

 Childhood experiences play a major role.

Structure of Mind

 Id – pleasure principle
  Ego – reality principle

 Superego – moral standards

Techniques Used

1. Free Association – client speaks freely without censorship.

2. Dream Analysis – dreams reveal unconscious wishes.

3. Resistance – blocking painful thoughts.

4. Transference – client projects feelings onto therapist.

Keywords: Unconscious, Free association, Transference.

Q (2 marks): What is free association?

A: It is a technique where the client speaks freely without filtering thoughts.

Q (6 marks): Explain psychoanalytic therapy and its techniques.

A: Psychoanalytic therapy focuses on unconscious conflicts. Techniques include free association,
dream analysis, resistance, and transference to bring unconscious material into consciousness.

🔹 Behaviour Therapy

Basic Assumptions

 Behaviour is learned, so it can be unlearned.

 Focuses on observable behaviour, not unconscious thoughts.

Techniques

1. Systematic Desensitisation

o Used for phobias.

o Gradual exposure to fear with relaxation.

2. Aversion Therapy

o Undesirable behaviour paired with unpleasant stimulus.

o Example: Bitter substance to stop nail biting.

3. Token Economy

o Desired behaviour rewarded with tokens.

 o Used in hospitals and schools.

4. Modelling

o Learning by observing others.

Keywords: Conditioning, Reinforcement, Phobia.

Q (3 marks): Explain systematic desensitisation.

A: It is a technique to reduce phobias by gradually exposing the client to feared objects while
using relaxation.

🔹 Cognitive Therapy

Basic Assumptions

 Psychological problems arise due to faulty thinking.

 Changing thoughts leads to change in emotions and behaviour.

Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Therapy

 Identified negative automatic thoughts.

 Cognitive distortions like overgeneralisation and catastrophising.

Albert Ellis’ Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT)

 ABCDE model

o A: Activating event

o B: Belief

o C: Consequence

o D: Disputation

o E: Effect

Keywords: Cognitive distortions, REBT, Negative thoughts.

Q (4 marks): Explain REBT.

A: REBT focuses on identifying irrational beliefs and replacing them with rational ones using the
ABCDE model.
🔹 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

 Combines cognitive and behavioural techniques.

 Most effective and widely used therapy today.

 Used for depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD.

Keywords: CBT, Thought restructuring.

Q (2 marks): What is CBT?

A: CBT is a therapy that combines cognitive and behavioural techniques to change thoughts and
behaviour.

🔹 Humanistic–Existential Therapy

Carl Rogers’ Client-Centred Therapy

 Focus on self-growth and self-actualisation.

 Therapist is non-directive.

Core Conditions

1. Empathy

2. Genuineness

3. Unconditional positive regard

Existential Therapy

 Focus on meaning of life, freedom, responsibility.

Keywords: Self-actualisation, Client-centred, Genuineness.

Q (4 marks): Explain the core conditions of client-centred therapy.

A: Empathy, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard help clients grow and understand
themselves.

🔹 Biomedical Therapy

 Uses medicines and medical procedures.

Types
 1. Antidepressants – depression

2. Antipsychotics – schizophrenia

3. Anti-anxiety drugs – anxiety

4. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) – severe depression

Keywords: Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, ECT.

Q (3 marks): What is ECT?

A: It is a medical treatment in which controlled electric current is passed through the brain to
treat severe depression.

🔹 Rehabilitation and Community Care

 Focus on social support and reintegration.

 Includes family therapy, self-help groups, vocational training.

Keywords: Rehabilitation, Community care.

🔹 Ethical Issues in Psychotherapy

1. Informed consent

2. Confidentiality

3. Professional competence

4. Respect for client

Keywords: Ethics, Confidentiality.

Q (2 marks): What is informed consent?

A: Client’s permission after being informed about the therapy.

🔹 Key Terms

Psychotherapy, Psychoanalysis, Behaviour therapy, CBT, REBT, Self-actualisation, Token economy,

Transference, ECT, Rehabilitation.
🔹 1 MARK ANSWERS

Q1. Define psychotherapy.

A: Psychotherapy is a systematic and professional interaction between a trained therapist and a

client to help the client overcome emotional, behavioural, or psychological problems.

Q2. Name the founder of psychoanalysis.

A: Sigmund Freud.

🔹 2 MARK ANSWERS

Q3. State two goals of psychotherapy.

A:

1. To reduce emotional distress and psychological suffering.

2. To help the client develop effective coping skills and adaptive behaviour.

Q4. What is unconditional positive regard?

A: Unconditional positive regard means accepting the client completely without judgment,
criticism, or conditions, regardless of their thoughts or behaviour.

🔹 3 MARK ANSWERS

Q5. Explain systematic desensitisation.

A:
Systematic desensitisation is a behavioural therapy technique used to treat phobias. It involves
three steps:

1. Learning relaxation techniques

2. Preparing a hierarchy of fears from least to most frightening

3. Gradual exposure to the feared object while remaining relaxed

Q6. What is token economy?

A:
Token economy is a behavioural technique in which desired behaviour is rewarded with tokens.
These tokens can later be exchanged for privileges or rewards. It is commonly used in schools
and mental health institutions.

🔹 4 MARK ANSWERS

Q7. Explain cognitive therapy.

A:
Cognitive therapy focuses on identifying and changing faulty, irrational, and negative thoughts
that lead to emotional problems. According to Aaron Beck, psychological disorders occur due to
negative automatic thoughts and cognitive distortions. By correcting these thoughts, emotional
well-being improves.

Q8. Describe client-centred therapy.

A:
Client-centred therapy was developed by Carl Rogers. It focuses on self-growth and self-
actualisation. The therapist is non-directive and provides empathy, genuineness, and
unconditional positive regard. The client is encouraged to explore feelings and find solutions
independently.

🔹 6 MARK ANSWERS

Q9. Explain different therapeutic approaches.

A:
There are various therapeutic approaches used to treat psychological disorders:

1. Psychoanalytic therapy: Focuses on unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences

using techniques like free association and dream analysis.

2. Behaviour therapy: Based on learning principles; uses techniques like systematic

desensitisation and token economy.
 3. Cognitive therapy: Aims to change faulty thinking patterns that cause emotional
problems.

4. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT): Combines cognitive and behavioural techniques to

change thoughts and behaviour.

5. Humanistic therapy: Emphasises self-growth, empathy, and unconditional positive

regard.

6. Biomedical therapy: Uses medicines and medical procedures like antidepressants and
electroconvulsive therapy.

Q10. Compare psychoanalytic and behavioural therapies.

A:

Psychoanalytic Therapy Behavioural Therapy

Focuses on unconscious conflicts Focuses on observable behaviour

Developed by Sigmund Freud Based on learning theories

Emphasises childhood experiences Emphasises present behaviour

Uses free association and dream analysis Uses conditioning and reinforcement

Long-term therapy Usually short-term therapy