CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Clinical Psychology

Clinical Psychology

This paper describes four basic approaches to clinical psychology - namely, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic and family systems.

Psychodynamic approach Origins

Psychodynamic approach uses a structure, psychoanalysis proper information, but customers typically sit in front of their therapists, and, according to one or two appointments a week. Treatments are often shorter duration and some measures may be only a few weeks. In general, however, psychodynamic perceptions are used in the treatment of a variety of contexts, including group therapy, assessment and intervention in crisis situations (Mc Williams, 2004).

Psychodynamic Approach Goals

Psychodynamic approach assumes that the experience over the duration of development, but particularly in early childhood, play an important role in shaping personality. For this reason, psychodynamic therapists to pay close attention to the stories of their clients. They are trying to understand a potentially important experiences, such as the accomplishment of development milestones and events, such as the birth of siblings, serious childhood illnesses, divorce, major steps of the family, the loss of important attachments of childhood, and psychological qualities and characteristics of clients with primary care of childhood. It is assumed that such experiences should be explored and their imprint on the adult personality must be understood if the therapist to help clients with their dilemmas.

Such variables can work together in complex ways. For example, the age at which certain events occur will play an important role in the child's ability to understand and, therefore, how its effects are absorbed (Mc Williams, 2004).

Cognitive-behavioral approach Origins

The origins of cognitive-behavioral approach can trace the movement in the 1950's and 1960's under the existing field of cognitive psychology and behavioral sciences. The growing dissatisfaction with conventional psychoanalysis and a strong interest in learning theory have led to a marked increase in behaviorally oriented therapy during 1950. Fortified by an arsenal empirical findings, behavioral therapy has become the established mode of treatment, which included methods based on classical, operant and observational learning. However, in the late 1960's dissatisfaction with the strict principles of behaviorism began to appear, even among those with behavioral tendencies (Meichenbaum, 2005).

Initial attempts to include "thinking" to imitate the behavior of the existing paradigm to change the observed behavior: Coverant (reduction of hidden operant) control, covert sensitization and covert modeling, for example, all focused on increasing or decreasing the specific thoughts, images and feelings it is considered desirable or problematic.

Cognitive-behavioral Approach Goals

Cognitive-behavioral approach includes a wide range of strategies. Cognitive-behavioral ...