Rekindle Counselling Ltd » Psychology Terms

Behaviour Therapy

Jerry Jordan, MBA, MEd — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:58:33 +0000

Behaviour Therapy developed from the behaviourism school of psychology and emphasises the observation and modification of behaviour, with little consideration of the mental causes of behaviour. This lack of (or lesser) emphasis on mental states distinguished behaviourism from early psychological and psychotherapy schools, such as Psychoanalysis.

Behaviour Therapy is often used to treat phobias (such as agoraphobia), anxiety disorders and clinical depression.

Substance Abuse

Jerry Jordan, MBA, MEd — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:32:42 +0000

Substance Abuse involves the excessive use of various drugs, alcohol or other chemicals. What constitutes “abuse” is not defined in absolute terms, but is seen in the context of an individual and his or her overall quality of life. If the use of the substance has a negative impact on the physical or mental health of the individual (or of others within the sphere of influence of the individual), then the use is considered excessive. Also, the social ramifications for the individual are relevant in determining whether substance abuse is taking place.

Family Therapy

Jerry Jordan, MBA, MEd — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:39:14 +0000

Family Systems Therapy can include “couple’s therapy” and involves the counselling of members within the familial structure. Other terms may be used, such as “Relationship Therapy”, “Relationship Counselling” and “Marriage Counselling”, depending on the family members being counselled.

Psychotherapy

Jerry Jordan, MBA, MEd — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:36:36 +0000

Psychotherapy is practiced by psychologists and psychiatrists, with training for these professionals being defined by most jurisdictions where they practice. In many countries, for example, a psychologist generally has at minimum a Bachelors degree in Psychology, while a psychiatrist is required to have both a medical degree and psychology training.

Psychotherapy involves the utilisation of various techniques for helping a person with emotional, cognitive or behavioural problems. Traditionally, these techniques were developed within a specific school of thought, which made assumptions about the nature of the person and what constituted “help”. Examples of psycho-therapeutic orientations include Psychoanalysis (Psychodynamic Therapy), Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and Humanistic Therapy. There are many other systems for therapy, but the three just listed have been the most popular. A more recent trend has been for psychotherapists to be integrative in their approaches, borrowing and mixing traditional approaches to suit their own views and methods of helping clients.

Ways of helping the client vary from one therapeutic system to the next, but include things such as developing insight (so that clients can understand their behaviour and make better choices in the future), various forms of behavioural conditioning (changing, removing or strengthening stimuli to modify behaviour) and creating a nurturing environment between the therapist and client, in which the client is assumed able to find the solutions to his or her problems and is encouraged to do so.

Psychoanalysis

Jerry Jordan, MBA, MEd — Sun, 24 May 2009 23:06:31 +0000

Psychoanalysis is an approach to psychotherapy that was originally developed by the Austrian Sigmund Freud. Treatment involves the client, or “analysand” discussing fantasies, dreams and experiences in a manner known as “free association”, where the client is able to talk about anything that comes to mind. The therapist then analyses this information to determine the unconscious conflicts that are believed to be causing the the maladaptive emotions, thoughts and behaviours of the client. The psychotherapist then interprets these unconscious conflicts for the client, helping the patient to develop insight into causes and possible resolutions of psychological problems.

In psychoanalysis, the problems of the present are always rooted in conflicts of the past and the client is required to give the therapist a great deal of detail about the life experiences of the client, in order to provide the therapist with a picture of the life in which conflicts have developed.

What is the difference between Psychotherapy and Counselling?

Jerry Jordan, MBA, MEd — Sun, 03 May 2009 03:59:41 +0000

The most direct answer to this question depends on where you live and on what side of this divide your therapist comes from. Some, if not most jurisdictions, have regulations regarding who can refer to themselves as “psychotherapists”, while use of the term “counsellor” (spelled “counselor” in the USA), in not as heavily regulated in most countries. There are exceptions to this, though, in places like the USA, where the term “Licensed Professional Counselor” (LPC) is regulated by most states.

So, what is the difference between psychotherapy and counselling? Counsellors generally involve themselves specifically with counselling, while psychotherapists often counsel, but can also be involved in research or practicing psychiatry (in the case of psychiatrists practicing psychotherapy). Psychotherapists are often required to have a minimum of a Bachelors degree in psychology, while the qualifications for counsellors can vary considerably.

If you are looking to change your life and feel like you might need a little bit of help from someone who will listen and encourage you, then why not contact us today?