A quick-revision summary of Chapter 5 Therapeutic Approaches: every definition, table and list in one place, for the night before the exam.
1Core Definitions
All definitions in one place
PsychotherapyVoluntary relationship between client and therapist, aimed at solving the client’s psychological problems
Therapeutic allianceContractual + limited-duration relationship between client and therapist
Unconditional positive regardTherapist’s continuing positive feeling for the client regardless of what is revealed
EmpathyUnderstanding AND feeling a client’s situation as if it were one’s own
Clinical formulationFormulating a client’s problem in the therapeutic model being used; an ongoing process
Reciprocal inhibitionTwo opposing forces present together; the weaker is inhibited by the stronger
Core schemaChildhood-formed belief + action-pattern system (Beck)
Cognitive restructuringChanging dysfunctional cognitive structures to reduce anxiety/depression
Self-actualisationInnate force moving a person toward becoming complex, balanced, integrated
CatharsisEmotional unburdening in the initial sessions; has healing properties
LogotherapyFrankl’s “treatment for the soul” (logos = Greek for soul); goal = helping the client find meaning and responsibility in life (meaning making is Frankl’s name for finding meaning even in life-threatening circumstances)
RehabilitationHelping a patient become self-sufficient and productive after symptoms reduce
2Classification of Psychotherapies
1 · PsychodynamicFirst
→
2 · BehaviourSecond
→
3 · Existential“Third force”: last
| Parameter | Psychodynamic | Behaviour therapy | Existential therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause | Intrapsychic conflicts | Faulty learning of behaviours/cognitions | Questions about meaning of life/existence |
| How the cause arose | Unfulfilled childhood desires, unresolved childhood fears | Faulty conditioning, learning, thinking and beliefs | Present loneliness, alienation, futility |
| Treatment method | Free association, reporting of dreams, interpretation | Alternate behavioural contingencies | Warm, accepting environment; client finds own solutions |
| Relationship | Therapist interprets the client’s conflicts | Therapist finds the adaptive patterns | Therapist only provides a warm, empathic relationship |
| Chief benefit | Emotional insight | Adaptive behaviour/thought patterns | Personal growth |
| Duration | Classical psychoanalysis: several years; recent versions 10-15 sessions | Few months | Few months |
3Behaviour Therapy: Techniques
Principles: reduce arousal; alter behaviour by classical or operant conditioning; use vicarious learning if necessary. Negative reinforcement and aversive conditioning are the two major techniques of behaviour modification.
Behavioural Techniques
Negative reinforcementEscape/avoid a painful stimulus
Aversive conditioningUndesired response + aversive consequence, repeated
Positive reinforcementReward to increase a rare adaptive behaviour
Token economyTokens collected and exchanged for a reward
Differential reinforcementIncrease wanted + reduce unwanted at the same time: (a) positive reinforcement for wanted + negative reinforcement for unwanted, together, or (b) positive reinforcement for wanted + ignore unwanted (less painful, equally effective)
Relaxation proceduresProgressive muscular relaxation and meditation, reduce anxiety as an antecedent factor
Systematic desensitisationWolpe; hierarchy least→most feared; reciprocal inhibition
ModellingLearn by observing a role model/therapist
4Cognitive Therapy
| Therapist | Therapy | Core idea |
|---|---|---|
| Albert Ellis | RET | ABC analysis: Antecedent → irrational Belief → Consequence |
| Aaron Beck | Cognitive therapy | Core schema → critical incident → negative automatic thoughts → cognitive distortions (dysfunctional cognitive structures) |
| (various) | CBT | Bio-psychosocial: relaxation + behaviour/cognitive techniques + environment change; most popular today |
5Humanistic-Existential Therapy
| Therapist | Therapy | Named technique/idea |
|---|---|---|
| Victor Frankl | Logotherapy | Meaning making; spiritual unconscious; existential anxiety; transference discouraged |
| Carl Rogers | Client-centred Therapy | Empathy, unconditional positive regard, reflection |
| Fritz & Laura Perls | Gestalt Therapy | Self-awareness/self-acceptance; acting out fantasies; group use possible |
6Healing Factors and Ethics
1
Techniques
Adopted and implemented by the therapist
2
The alliance
Availability, warmth, empathy
3
Catharsis
Emotional unburdening early in therapy
4
Non-specific factors
Patient variables + therapist variables
✓ Every therapist must
- Take informed consent
- Maintain confidentiality
- Aim to alleviate distress
- Preserve relationship integrity
- Respect human rights/dignity
- Have professional competence
✗ The book’s warnings, in short
- Practise without professional training
- Break confidentiality
- Exploit the client’s trust and confidence
7Alternative Therapies
| Therapy | Key research finding |
|---|---|
| Yoga (Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras) | Asanas + pranayama; insomnia is treated with yoga; a skilled teacher and 30 minutes’ daily practice maximise benefits |
| Vipasana/mindfulness meditation | No fixed object; may prevent repeated depressive episodes |
| Sudarshana Kriya Yoga (SKY) | NIMHANS, India: reduces depression; helps PTSD, stress, stress-related medical illnesses, substance abuse |
| Kundalini Yoga | UCSD, USA: effective for OCD |
8Rehabilitation of the Mentally Ill
Milder disorders
- Generalised anxiety, reactive depression, phobia
- Symptom reduction ≈ better quality of life
Severe disorders (e.g. schizophrenia)
- Negative symptoms persist
- Symptom reduction may not mean better quality of life
1
Occupational therapy
Candle/paper bag making, weaving
2
Social skills training
Role play, imitation, instruction
3
Cognitive retraining
Attention, memory, executive functions
4
Vocational training
Productive employment skills
Quick Revision
- Psychodynamic therapy has no taught section of its own in the book, but it appears in the six-parameter comparison; the chapter has no section on biomedical or drug therapy; conventional drug treatment is mentioned only as the contrast for alternative therapies
- Individual psychotherapy is the predominant mode for adults with psychological distress; the therapist must be professionally trained
- Empathy ≠ sympathy ≠ intellectual understanding: know the 3-way difference
- Wolpe → systematic desensitisation; Ellis → RET; Beck → core schema; Frankl → Logotherapy; Rogers → Client-centred; Perls → Gestalt
- CBSE 2026-27 curriculum: Unit V carries 9 of the 70 theory marks; the 30-mark practical is separate and not covered here
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