The treatment of medical disorders during the 17th and 18th centuries at St. Mary’s Bethlehem Hospital in London was commonly referred to as “bedlam.” Visitors would pay to view patients who were strapped and shackled to their chairs and cots, as if they were viewing zoo animals. From Beatings toContinue Reading
During the 19th and early 20th century psychological treatment was based on viewing a mental disorder as an illness that needed to be cured. Mental illnesses were seen in a negative light, and treatment centered on rigid, structured psychotherapy methods for curing the underlying cause. Limitless Possibilities Psychologist Carl RogersContinue Reading
During the early years of the twentieth century, psychology became established as a field of study, with two distinctly different approaches. One approach was clinical psychology, which was largely based on the psychoanalytical work of Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) that psychic tension – the difference between our unconscious and conscious thoughtsContinue Reading
Cognitive-behavior therapy techniqes are used to treat anxiety, panic attacks and phobias. It aims to alter the way people act (behavior therapy), and to alter the way they think (cognitive therapy). It seeks to make people aware of their irrational negatve thinking and to replace it with new ways ofContinue Reading
During the second half of the 20th century psychoanalysis was seen by many psychologists as less than scientific, and thus was slowly replaced by newer cognitive therapy techniques. Cognitive therapy assumes that our thinking colors our feelings and places an emphasis on examining people’s perceptions of their experiences. Cognitive therapyContinue Reading
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community” (WorldContinue Reading
Existential therapy is a form of psychotherapy based on the model of human nature and experience. It focuses on the positive view that each person is a unique individual capable of growing and realizing their potential, as well as making the choices that shape their life. The Meaning of AnxietyContinue Reading
Gestalt Therapy is based on the idea that perception, or awareness, is disjointed and incomplete in maladjusted people. The German word Gestalt means “entire” or “whole.” Gestalt Therapy helps people rebuild thoughts, feelings and behaviors into connected wholes. This is achieved by expanding personal awareness to accept responsibility for one’sContinue Reading
Our discussion of the various therapeutic approaches includes Holistic Therapy, which attempts to address an individual as a whole person rather than as someone who is psychologically ill, i.e., needing to be cured or fixed. Instead of separating psychological problems into a different component, Holistic Therapy attempts to address theContinue Reading
Also known as person-centered therapy developed by Carl Rogers, humanistic therapy describes a therapist’s aim to boost self-fulfillment by helping a person to grow in self-awareness and self-acceptance. The therapist tends to focus on the present and future more than the past. They explore feelings as they come up, ratherContinue Reading