Psychological Therapy - Essay Example

Although one might be tempted to assume that therapy, in all its manifestations, utilizes a similar approach, the fact of the matter is that therapy is as nuanced and differentiated as the field of psychology itself. The ultimate underlying reason behind this has to do with the fact that many different types of psychological theories are utilized within different types of therapies. In short, such an understanding should not lead the reader to assume that psychological therapy of one variety or another is inherently flawed or less beneficial to the patient than another type; rather, it only helps to underscore the fact that different approaches are utilized different situations and based on different theoretical interpretations of relevant and existing understanding. Seeking to compare and contrast a handful of psychological therapies would necessarily demand a dissertation length response. However, for purposes of this brief analysis, the author will focus upon and compare/contrast two distinct types of therapy. These are cognitive therapy and humanistic therapy. Even within such a focus level of analysis, this particular work will only be able to highlight the core differentials and main means of approach that both of these therapeutic interventions seek to affect. Although they both are utilized as a means of improving the psychological outlook for the patient involved in them, they approach issues from a divergent standpoint and utilize different interpretations to draw inference upon what should be improved and what defines improvement. Moreover, the means by which psychological change can be affected, and the priority of these needs are fundamentally differentiated when one compares cognitive therapy to humanistic therapy. Firstly, it must be understood that within cognitive therapy the main goal that is sought to be accomplished is identifying and overcoming problematic ways of thinking, behavior, or beliefs. In this way, treatment itself is accomplished through a type of mutual collaboration between the therapist and patient in which a type of change is sought to be affected to the traditional means by which thought, realization, and cognition takes place (Rimes & Wingrove, 2013). Ultimately, rather than changing the surroundings, the setting, or many other factors within the life of the patient, the therapist instead seeks to focus upon the means by which cognitive changes within the individual patient can accomplish a radical change with regards to the way in which information is understood and processed through the brain (Bowie, 2013). The way in which cognitive therapy begins is by counseling patient in seeking to understand the way in which thought processes exist and information is ultimately understood. Only within such an understanding can the therapist then seek to question some of the assumptions and test variable hypotheses with regards to the way in which a flawed system of understanding and/or cognition is exhibited within the mind of the patient (Smith et al, 2013). Although it may seem that this is a very scientific approach, the use and importance of feelings with regards to seeking an understanding is also emphasized within the cognitive therapeutic approach. But once a specific error is understood, concerning the way in which individual thinks, it is then the role of the cognitive therapist to understand the determinants to this way of thinking and challenge the feelings/beliefs of the individual in a way that encourages them to change (Yuill & Hollis, 2011). Ultimately, a hierarchy of errors is created and inference is drawn from a selected abstraction of facts so that a positive level of change can eventually be affected. Although the proscriptions for the way in which cognitive therapy is ultimately carried out have thus far been a little not seated, it should not be understood that this is a simple process. Rather, seeking to change the belief and understanding patterns of individuals is a process that is perhaps the most difficult of all psychological approaches (Gaitán, 2013). Due to the fact that these are informed and reinforced understandings that have congealed and solidified over life experience, it must take a very delicate and firm approach of the cognitive therapist to affect a positive level of change upon any misinformed determinants that have thus far been discussed. Conversely, humanistic therapy does not seek to understand any and all human action based upon incorrect or improper cognition. Rather, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is utilizes a means of understanding why a level of self actualization, the highest level of understanding and interpretation, might not be reached. If one considers Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the first component that is understood is that it is impossible to attain a further level unless all of the necessary requirements of the previous levels have already been realized within the life of the patient (Steffen, 2013). As such, whereas the ultimate goal of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is to provide a level of self actualization to the patient in question, this level of self actualization cannot be met and less subsequent levels of needs are met prior to this. As such, any breakdown within the individual patient or therapeutic needs that they may have within humanistic therapy is ultimately understood as a breakdown or inability to achieve a level of self actualization. Due to the fact that this can exist within any of the layers of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, it is necessary for the psychologist pinpoint which of these needs is perhaps the offending party and speak to them prior to any level of person centered therapeutic impacts being affected (Swan & Schottelko, 2013). Many researchers and scholars have pointed to humanistic therapy as something of a road map therapy. Although some have understood this to be overly simplistic, the road map therapy approach is ultimately one in which the researcher/psychologist merely use the situation that the patient finds themselves within and seeks to determine which one of the hierarchy of needs is currently not being met. From there, something of a road map approach can be instituted with respect to how the individual patient can seek to recover and/or reform their lives in order to achieve a higher level of self actualization. The ultimate deviation between these two particular psychological therapies is with respect to what is targeted within their approach (Siemonsma et al, 2013). Within cognitive therapy, an assumption that a broken level of understanding, belief systems, or other factors are ultimately responsible for negative behaviors that are exhibited within the life of the patient is tacit and understood. Conversely, any negative behaviors, thought processes, patterns, or indications that are noted within the humanistic therapeutic approach are concentric upon the understanding of believe that self-actualization is not being met in fact that a lower level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is currently not addressed. Although it is thus far been discussed that humanistic therapy is in fact something of an existential therapy, one in which an inability to meet certain requirements illustrates a certain behavior, the fact of the matter is that the ways of thinking that a patient approaches self-actualization is also heavily leveraged within such an approach. As such, the level of comparison can ultimately be drawn with regards to cognitive therapy as compared to the way in which humanistic therapy approaches the issue of patient belief and understanding. Such a unit of analysis helps the reader to come to the understanding that even though positive therapy antagonistic therapy are interrelated, a broad level of variance comes into play with regards to the ultimate tacit understandings that both the psychologist and the patient integrate with before, during, and after such a therapy (Malchiodi, 2012). Many psychologists seek to utilize a combination of therapies as a means of affecting the most positive outcome patient. However, seeking to leverage to broaden approach stresses diluting influence that a particular approach might hope to offer. As a function of the information that is thus far been discussed, it is the understanding of this particular author that neither cognitive therapy nor humanistic therapy are invariably the best approach to utilize within any given situation. Rather, it is the role and psychologists/psychiatrist to understand whether or not come to therapy and/or humanistic therapy is the best means of approach for any specific case/patient. Within such an understanding, it is further important to note that within certain situations and/or certain patient needs, a combination of both cognitive and humanistic therapy is necessitated in order to affect a positive level change. Moreover, there are certain situations in which neither cognitive therapy nor humanistic therapy are the most effective means of creating such a change and another/alternate form of psychological approach/theory must be leveraged. Regardless of the approach that is used, seeking to state that a given psychological therapy is better or more effective in any and all situation is ultimately an exercise in futility. Rather, it must be understood that even though many of these approaches have been around for a relatively long period of time, they have been employed and leveraged within the situations that they are determined to be effective within. By much the same token, the reader can come to an actionable level of understanding with regards to which particular psychological therapy is the most effective and what constraints that has with regards to addressing the needs of the individual patient. References Bowie, C, Gupta, M, & Holshausen, K 2013, 'Cognitive Remediation Therapy for Mood Disorders: Rationale, Early Evidence, and Future Directions', Canadian Journal Of Psychiatry, 58, 6, pp. 319-325, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 27 August 2013. Rimes, K, & Wingrove, J 2013, 'Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Still Experiencing Excessive Fatigue after Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: A Pilot Randomized Study', Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 20, 2, pp. 107-117, CINAHL Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 27 August 2013. Gaitán, A, Garolera, M, Cerulla, N, Chico, G, Rodriguez-Querol, M, & Canela-Soler, J 2013, 'Efficacy of an adjunctive computer-based cognitive training program in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: a single-blind, randomized clinical trial', International Journal Of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28, 1, pp. 91-99, CINAHL Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 27 August 2013. Malchiodi, CA 2012, 'Humanistic approaches', Handbook of art therapy (2nd ed.) pp. 75-88 New York, NY US: Guilford Press PsycINFO, EBSCOhost, viewed 27 August 2013. Siemonsma, P, Stuive, I, Roorda, L, Vollebregt, J, Walker, M, Lankhorst, G, & Lettinga, A 2013, 'Cognitive Treatment of Illness Perceptions in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial', Physical Therapy, 93, 4, pp. 435-448, CINAHL Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 27 August 2013. Steffen, E 2013, 'Both 'being with' and 'doing to': Borderline personality disorder and the integration of humanistic values in contemporary therapy practice', Counselling Psychology Review, 28, 1, pp. 64-71, PsycINFO, EBSCOhost, viewed 27 August 2013. Swan, K, & Schottelkorb, A 2013, 'Interpreting children’s dreams through humanistic sandtray therapy', International Journal Of Play Therapy, 22, 3, pp. 119-128, PsycINFO, EBSCOhost, viewed 27 August 2013. Smith, A, Norton, P, & McLean, C 2013, 'Client Perceptions of Therapy Component Helpfulness in Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety Disorders', Journal Of Clinical Psychology, 69, 3, pp. 229-239, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 27 August 2013. Yuill, N, & Hollis, V 2011, 'A Systematic Review of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for Older Adults with Mild to Moderate Dementia: An Occupational Therapy Perspective', Occupational Therapy International, 18, 4, pp. 163-186, CINAHL Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 27 August 2013. Read More