Differences among Therapies for Each School of Thought in Psychology

Psychology is not a unified science. There are numerous schools of thought in psychology, each with its own way of conceptualizing the origins of psychological problems. With these different views, each school has developed different ways of addressing psychological problems--thus therapy is different for each school of thought. Although there are many schools of thought, most professionals provide therapy from one of these five primary schools of thought: psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, cognitive, humanistic and biological.

Psychodynamic Therapy

• Psychodynamic theory holds that tension between conscious and unconscious forces creates psychological problems. These problems were created in childhood, and therapy (called psychoanalysis) is the long process of developing an awareness of these unconscious elements.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on the person's life as it is now--the current and conscious thought patterns and behaviors. The therapist is directive--making specific recommendations on how to bring about change in behavior. Sessions are well structured with direct questioning, and they typically end with an assignment to complete before the next session.

Cognitive Thearpy

• In cognitive therapy problematic or distorted cognitions are thought to underlie psychological problems. These underlying thoughts are considered automatic, not unconscious. Therapy is a process of discovering and altering these automatic thoughts. Once these problematic thinking patterns (called cognitive distortions) are discovered, therapy becomes a process of altering the patterns to bring about resolution of the psychological problem.

Humanistic Therapy

• In humanistic therapy the qualities that make each person unique are focused on. Therapy is primarily a process of becoming aware of one's emotions, values, meanings and motivations to bring about conscious change. Humanistic therapy also focuses on the importance of the client's relationship with the therapist, with the goal of establishing and maintaining a sense of acceptance and respect for the client. The importance of this type of relationship is the hallmark of this therapy and is often considered the most valuable technique the therapist can employ.

Pharmacotherapy

• Biological theory views psychological problems as a reflection of brain pathology. Pharmacotherapy is the use of medications, and only physicians (usually psychiatrists) can prescribe medications. The medications prescribed are called psychotropics. There is a large variety of these drugs and most work on neurotransmitter sites. Some prevent specific neural transmission and others increase it.

Effectivness

• Research indicates that therapy is an effective method of resolving psychological problems and that one type of therapy is not more effective than another; however there are variables to consider. Therapy is most effective when the perspective of the therapist and the client are in agreement on the origin of the problem--this is called "therapeutic match." Another variable is motivation; effectiveness of therapy relies heavily upon the motivation and dedication of the client to engage in therapy and follow through outside the therapy session. Also, people have different needs. Not every form of therapy meets everyone's needs. To determine if therapy would be effective for you, consult a professional who can assist you in identifying your unique needs, determine if a therapeutic match exists and assess your level of motivation for change.