Therapy Approaches Quiz

Psychoanalytic and Person-Centered Therapy

• Freud's structural model includes the id (pleasure-driven unconscious urges), superego (internalized morals and societal judgment), and ego (mediator).
• Psychoanalysis is the original form of therapy based on Freud's theories, aiming to bring unconscious struggles into conscious awareness.
• Psychoanalysis has been largely replaced by the more broadly defined psychodynamic therapy, which is briefer and focuses on relieving psychological distress.
• Psychoanalysis is not appropriate for some patients, and its effectiveness lacks empirical support.
• Humanistic or person-centered therapy (PCT) focuses on creating conditions for patients to discover their self-worth and explore their identity.
• PCT was developed by Carl Rogers and is based on humanistic theory and the belief in human potential for change and improvement.
• In PCT, the therapist takes a passive role and fosters self-understanding in an environment where adaptive change is likely to occur.
• Therapists in PCT provide a nonjudgmental and empathetic relationship, allowing the patient to explore their own thoughts and behaviors.
• PCT is highly acceptable to patients and translates well to other therapeutic approaches, but findings about its effectiveness are mixed.
• The main disadvantage of PCT is that it is primarily based on nonspecific treatment factors, which may affect its effectiveness.
• Both psychoanalysis and PCT involve unstructured conversations between the therapist and the patient, but the roles of the therapist and the goals of the therapy differ.
• Psychoanalytic theory set the stage for modern approaches to therapy, while PCT focuses on fostering self-understanding and personal growth in a supportive environment.

Comparison of Psychoanalysis, Person-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

• Psychoanalysis focuses on exploring the unconscious mind and past experiences to understand and treat mental illness.
• Person-Centered Therapy (PCT) emphasizes establishing a good relationship with the patient, using techniques that can be applied to anyone, rather than specific to the patient or mental problem.
• PCT uses the same practices for everyone, potentially working for some but not others, requiring further research to evaluate its utility.
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) aims to alleviate psychological symptoms by changing underlying cognitions and behaviors.
• CBT views thoughts, behaviors, and emotions as interacting and contributing to mental disorders.
• CBT is present-focused, using behavioral goals and homework assignments to improve mental illness.
• CBT is a relatively brief intervention, tailored to the nature of the psychopathology and treatment of the specific mental disorder.
• CBT has proven to be highly efficacious for virtually all psychiatric illnesses, supported by empirical data.
• CBT targets maladaptive behaviors and incorporates exposure therapy for many mental health problems, especially anxiety disorders.
• CBT interventions tend to be relatively brief, cost-effective, and intuitive, but involve significant effort on the patient's part.
• CBT has abundant empirical support for its effectiveness, considered a first-line treatment for many mental disorders.
• CBT is equally or more effective than other forms of treatment, including medication and other therapies, based on consistent study findings.