Axia College Material

Appendix D
Psychotherapy Matrix
Directions: Review Module 36 of Psychology and Your Life. Select three approaches to summarize. Include examples of the types of psychological disorders appropriate for each therapy.

PSY/201

{Insert type of therapy approach} Summary of Approach Cognitive Behavioral Approach This approach moves to teach people to think in more adaptive ways by changing their dysfunctional cognitions about the world and themselves. This includes the approach that anxiety, depression and negative emotions stem from adapting poorly throughout their upbringing and adult life. This approach looks to change the thought process that leaves people stuck in a dysfunctional way of thinking. Throughout the treatment process, the therapist will tend to focus on concrete problems and will begin to teach the theory behind the approach and will be a crucial step of support by being a teacher, coach and partner throughout the entire process.

{Insert type of therapy approach} Psychodynamic Therapy This therapy looks to treat unresolved past conflicts and impulses that are negative from the unconscious being into the conscious where a patient can deal with the problem more effectively. The most common defense mechanism is repression which consists of pushing back negative conflicts and impulses back into the unconscious being. Treatment looks to confront the conflicts and impulses by bringing them from the unconscious part of the mind to the conscious part. It is thought that the technique would help to reduce anxiety from past conflicts. By helping a patient to understand the underlying cause of problems that most likely include long-hidden crises, traumas and conflicts and by understanding them will allow the patient to work through the problems by understanding and rectifying the difficulties. Social phobia, panic disorder, agoraphobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, maternal depression, bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, borderline personality disorder, chronic functional dyspepsia

{Insert type of therapy approach} Dialectical Behavior Therapy This therapy focuses and emphasizes getting people to accept who they are regardless of whether it matches their ideal. This approach is taken even if a childhood has been dysfunctional or has ruined relationships with others as a result of their behavior. An important part of the therapy is to have the patient understand that they have two choices which are to remain unhappy or change to become happy. After a patient chooses that they want to change they are held responsible for making modifications to their behavior. The therapy helps to teach behavioral skills that help individuals to behave effectively and keep their emotions in check. This therapy has been shown to help eliminate anxiety disorders as well as phobias and compulsions and helping patients to control their impulses and learning complex social skills to replace maladaptive behavior. Borderline personality disorder, self-harm, depression, anxiety disorders, anger issues, eating disorders, substance abuse,

Disorders appropriate for this therapy

Anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, obsessivecompulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, depression and suicidal feelings, phobias including heights, flying, animals and tests.

PSY/201