Vishal Singh
There are more than hundreds of therapies in the field of psychology. While each therapy has its own value, identifying the right therapy for a particular psychological ailment is a task which can be a little challenging and is of paramount importance. Not undergoing the correct type of therapy can affect the client’s psychological health adversely.
This is where a definitive therapy gains its significance. Put in simple words, a definitive therapy is the one which has been selected as the most suitable for the client after all the other options have been considered. A definitive therapy is the one which treats a particular psychological ailment the best.
A definitive therapy hence is not a therapy which is one of its kind but rather it is a title/tag given to a particular form of therapy. A therapy(say Psychoanalysis) may be definitive for one client and may not be definitive for another. To understand the factors and the criteria which may be detrimental for choosing a definitive therapy, it would be of much help to first understand some of the common therapies and their underlying techniques and principles.
Article Contents
CLASSIFICATIONS OF THERAPIES
On the Basis of approach
Most of the therapies today aren’t pure in their composition but rather are hybrids which incorporate elements from various techniques and types of therapies. All the therapies can be broadly classified into two categories based on how they approach the treatment.
1) ECLECTIC PSYCHOTHERAPIES- These therapies are more outcome oriented. Therapists use and combine different elements of various psychotherapies in order to cure a client. It is also sometimes referred to as multi-modal therapy.
2) INTEGRATED PSYCHOTHERAPIES- These therapies are based more around the causalities. Therapists use one theory to compliment another(based on the symptoms of the client) and hence combine various therapies in order to form a cohesive therapy best suited for the client.
Depending on the client’s symptoms and conditions, a psychotherapist might deem either of the approaches as definitive.
NATURE OF APPROACH
1.) Uncovering Approach- Some therapies may use an uncovering approach under which they help the clients to discover the root causes of their problems. This approach is suitable for therapies which are insight oriented i.e. which help the clients to gain insights about their problems. Such types of therapies may be deemed as definitive for clients who may be suffering from prolonged anxiety, phobias, etc.
For example, Psychoanalysis may be deemed as definitive for a client who suffers from anxiety or unexplained fears. The approach of psychoanalysis may help the client to identify the root cause of his/her problems by analyzing his past experiences. The client may be able to identify the experiences(which might have slipped away from the conscious mind over time) which led to the development of anxieties and fears.
2) Supportive Approach- Therapies which are supportive in their approach help the client to develop coping mechanisms for particular situations or conditions. For example, supportive approach of a therapy might be deemed as definitive for clients who suffer from the problem of anger management.
FACTORS WHICH DETERMINE EFFECTIVENESS OF A THERAPY
There can be many factors which determine effectiveness of a therapy. However, there are some common factors which play a major role in the success of any therapy.
One such factor is the Health of the therapeutic relationship between the client and the therapist. A therapist must be Empathic, accepting, and a good listener. A healthy relationship between the client and the therapist ensures that the client opens up to the therapist which largely helps in the effectiveness of the therapy.
Other factors which determine the effectiveness of a therapy are-
- Client Characteristics- A knowledge of client characteristics helps the therapist to determine the psychological disorder from which a client might be suffering. Accurate knowledge of Client characteristics also helps the therapist to determine the definitive therapy. For example a client who shows characteristics such as hypertension, acute depression, etc. might suggest to the therapist that Cognitive-behavioral therapy might act as the definitive therapy.
- Therapist’s Clinical Expertise- A therapist’s clinical expertise is very important to determine the type of therapy which must be used to treat a client. For example a therapist who does not have adequate experience in Hypnotherapy will abstain from using it as a definitive therapy for treating acute anxieties, depression, etc. and might label expressive therapy as definitive.
SOME COMMON THERAPIES
1) Gestalt Therapy
This therapy may be regarded as definitive for clients who may be dealing with Hypertension, Depression, etc. Often it happens that the client slips into depression due to overthinking and giving attention to thoughts which might not necessarily be a reality. Such thoughts may spiral up and hence contribute to depression.
The Gestalt Therapy stimulates the clients to practice mindfulness and practice self-awareness in the present moment in order to avoid unwanted thoughts. Clients become much more aware about their feelings and emotions and hence are able to deal with them better.
2) Behavior Therapy
This therapy looks at specific learned behavioral patterns and how environmental and social factors influence these patterns. Behavior therapies make use of various techniques in order to analyze and modify behavioral patterns. These include noting the timings of specific behavior exhibitions which make a behavioral pattern statistically predictable, treating mind and body as a coherent unit, noting contextual conditions, etc.
This approach may be definitive for clients who are aiming to change maladaptive patterns. For example, a therapist might use this therapy in order to make the client aware of the factors which contribute to his/her acute procrastinating habits and hence help the client to break free from the cycle of procrastination.
3) Cognitive Therapy
This therapy focuses on changing the cognitions and thought patterns in order to change the behavior of the client. This therapy may be deemed definitive for clients who undergo negative changes in their behavior after undergoing acute stress or trauma. Cognitive therapy might be useful in influencing their behavior positively.
4) psychosomatic Therapy
This type of therapy as the name suggests is best suited for clients who undergo bodily manifestations of psychological disorders. The most common example being occurrence of bodily pains due to acute levels of stress and anxiety. Therapists use several relaxation techniques, mindfulness and graded activities to assess and reinforce the recovery of clients.
5) Expressive Therapy
Expressive therapies may be regarded as definitive therapy for clients who suffer from anxiety, unexplained fears, lack of self confidence, etc. This therapy encourages the clients to indulge in activities which help in self expression. Activities may include Dance, Drama, Art, Music, Catharsis, etc.
This type of therapy is based on the belief that by expressing themselves through various art forms in an unrestrictive environment, clients may be able to release their anxieties, fears and other tensions. Such activities also help the client to become more aware emotionally and hence develop deeper insights into their problems.
