Introduction to Psychotherapy (Wolberg)

 Q. Define Psychotherapy and describe its tenets. How is it different from Psychoanalysis?

Definition: Psychotherapy is the treatment

• By psychological means
• Of problems of an emotional nature
• In which a trained person
•  Deliberately establishes
•  A professional relationship
• With the patient
• With the object of
• Removing, modifying or retarding existing symptoms
• Mediating disturbed patterns of behaviour
• Promoting positive personality growth and development

 

This definition excludes trial action therapies such as

• ·         Occupational therapy
• ·         Dance therapy
• ·         Music therapy
• ·         Psychodrama

 

Chief deterrents in successful therapy:

·         Inadequate motivation

·         Diminutive ego strength (positive personality assets)

·         Patient limitations (time, finances etc.)

 

Psychotherapy involves application of information from the fields of

• ·         Psychology
• ·         Medicine
• ·         Sociology
• ·         Culture
• ·         Education
• ·         Rehabilitation

Fig. Types of Psychotherapy

Psychoanalysis v/s Psychotherapy: Case selection is the key.

 

Exploratory Psychotherapy/Dynamic Psychotherapy/Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy/ Psychoanalytically Oriented Psychotherapy:

 Improvements/modifications in the classical technique of psychoanalysis, such as

·                Institution of activity in the relationship

·                Reduction in the no. of weekly sessions

·                Focused interview instead of free association

·                Consideration of present rather than past

·                Introduction of adjunctive devices

·                Proffering of suggestions and directives

·                Interview when necessary with family members

·                Restrained development of transference neurosis