Chpt 12
CHAPTER OUTLINE
Psychotherapy is the treatment of psychological disorders through psychological methods, such as talking about problems and exploring new ways of thinking and acting.
I. BASIC FEATURES OF TREATMENT What features do all treatment techniques have in common? A. The basic features of treatment for disorders include a client, or patient; a therapist, or helper; a special relationship between the two; a theory about the causes of the client’s problems; and a set of treatment procedures to address the client’s problems. 1. Inpatients receive treatment while staying in a hospital or other residential institution. They have impairments severe enough to create a threat to their own well-being or that of others. Their treatment almost always includes psychoactive drugs. Outpatients receive treatment while living in the community. 2. There are many providers of psychological treatment. a) Psychiatrists are medical doctors specially trained to treat mental disorders. They are authorized to prescribe drugs. b) Psychologists who do psychotherapy have usually completed a doctoral program in clinical or counseling psychology, sometimes with additional specialized training. Except for New Mexico and Louisiana, psychologists in the United States may not prescribe drugs. However, many other states are currently considering granting prescription privileges to specially trained psychologists. c) Clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional counselors usually hold a master’s degree in their field and provide therapy in hospitals, clinics, or private practice. d) Psychiatric nurses, substance abuse counselors, pastoral counselors, and paraprofessional providers provide therapy, usually as part of a treatment team. 3. The basic goal in psychotherapy is to help troubled people change their thinking, feelings, and behavior to relieve discomfort, and
Psychotherapy is the treatment of psychological disorders through psychological methods, such as talking about problems and exploring new ways of thinking and acting.
I. BASIC FEATURES OF TREATMENT What features do all treatment techniques have in common? A. The basic features of treatment for disorders include a client, or patient; a therapist, or helper; a special relationship between the two; a theory about the causes of the client’s problems; and a set of treatment procedures to address the client’s problems. 1. Inpatients receive treatment while staying in a hospital or other residential institution. They have impairments severe enough to create a threat to their own well-being or that of others. Their treatment almost always includes psychoactive drugs. Outpatients receive treatment while living in the community. 2. There are many providers of psychological treatment. a) Psychiatrists are medical doctors specially trained to treat mental disorders. They are authorized to prescribe drugs. b) Psychologists who do psychotherapy have usually completed a doctoral program in clinical or counseling psychology, sometimes with additional specialized training. Except for New Mexico and Louisiana, psychologists in the United States may not prescribe drugs. However, many other states are currently considering granting prescription privileges to specially trained psychologists. c) Clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional counselors usually hold a master’s degree in their field and provide therapy in hospitals, clinics, or private practice. d) Psychiatric nurses, substance abuse counselors, pastoral counselors, and paraprofessional providers provide therapy, usually as part of a treatment team. 3. The basic goal in psychotherapy is to help troubled people change their thinking, feelings, and behavior to relieve discomfort, and