Psychoanalytic Theory
The theory of Psychoanalytic is based on the notion that maladaptive behaviors are the result of underlying problems-conditions that cannot be seen (anger, resentment, personal conflict).
It places great importance on children's early years, particularly their relationships with parents
Furthermore it asumes that all of us do things for reasons of which we are unaware. it stems from Freud's belief that conscious motivation and awareness account for only a small portion of our behavior.
The unconscious determines our behavior, the uncscious is most important for understandnig and correcting emotional and behavioral problems.
Disturbed behavior is thought to result from an inability to resolve a conflict at a particular developmental stage.
Unresolved conflicts or psychological crises during critical phases of development may set stage for future problems.
Behavioral Theory
Based on the notion that people are diturbed because of their innacurate perceptions of reality.
It focuses on conscious rather tahn unconscious thoughts and the present rather than the past.
It assumes that the thinking patterns of children and youths are often the cause of their problem behavior.
Behavior that causes a child to be labeled as disordered rarely occurs in isolation, it arises from interactions that are influenced by subcultural and social role factors.
It is common for all of us to be emotionally disturbed ocassionally as evidenced in bouts of severs anger, depression or extreme frustration.
Children of all ages may show a number of emotional reactions to their parents' separation and divorce, including sadness anger, depression, shame, guilt, fear, and rejection.
Many mentally healthy persons live constructive lives despite difficult situations.
Causes are:
Biological- physical, medical, genetic factors
Environmental- Experiences that make up our day- to-day world
All of us are products of our biology. Our instincts, muscles, nerves, and genetic influences determine at least to some extent the manner in which we say, think and do things.
The nervous system consists of a massive collection of inter-connected nerve cells that affect every aspect of life, including our senses and behavior.
Genetic influences have long been used to explain emotional and behavioral disorders- when we assume that children and adolescents demonstrate the same behavioral patterns, either positve or negative as other family memebers, we frequently overlook the powerful influence of environment and numerous conditions that affect behavior.
It is the child's early experiences in life that affect most strongly how a child develops. Children and adolescents with severe long-term health probelms and physical handicaps may suffer emotional problems.
It is apparent that values, attitudes, experiences and expectations to which children are exposed affect their behavior.
Children who are exposed to unhealthy conditions are thought to be more susceptible to emotional problems.
Rational Emotive Therapy
- The rationale of therapy (RET)
- The client’s role in therapy
- The therapist’s role
- The therapeutic techniques
- The process of change
RET is an active, directive, focused and challenging therapy with a range of diagnostic and cognitive-restructuring techniques which place considerable demands on the client’s capacity to think clearly and logically.
Rationale of Therapy
RET espouses the view that emotional problems and dysfunctional behaviors are largely, if not exclusively determined by client’s irrational beliefs (iBs) related to their view of the world, others, and themselves.
RET holds that- elucidation of irrational beliefs will significantly reduce the problematic emotions and behaviors.
ABCDE of RET
The therapist spends considerable time and energy educating the client of the ABCDE model of RET.
A: stands for activating event/ adversities that block desires for success/ love and comfort.
B: these are the irrational beliefs that client’s hold about (A)
C: emotive and behavioral consequences of the irrational beliefs
D: the disputing of the irrational beliefs
E: effects of the dispute
The Client’s Role
In RET; the expectation is that clients will be hard-working, active participants, who will take a major role in specifying problems and goals; and identifying and modifying irrational beliefs.
Equally, the client’s role is likened to that of a student or an apprentice.
The Therapist’s Role
Within the model of tutor or coach, RET therapists vary style from the didactic to the evocative or Socratic. Their style also varies according to the needs of their clients.
Therapeutic Techniques
Eliciting Irrational Beliefs
Eliciting irrational beliefs is the major RET therapist skill. Therapists are encouraged to expose efficiently and systematically clients’ which are deemed to underpin their specific emotional and behavioral problems.
Eliciting techniques-like sentence completion and inference chaining
E.g.; of an enquiry based on “then what?” and why in search of the client’s most relevant inference.
In RET; the expectation is that clients will be hard-working, active participants, who will take a major role in specifying problems and goals; and identifying and modifying irrational beliefs.
Equally, the client’s role is likened to that of a student or an apprentice.
The Therapist’s Role
Within the model of tutor or coach, RET therapists vary style from the didactic to the evocative or Socratic. Their style also varies according to the needs of their clients.
Therapeutic Techniques
Eliciting Irrational Beliefs
Eliciting irrational beliefs is the major RET therapist skill. Therapists are encouraged to expose efficiently and systematically clients’ which are deemed to underpin their specific emotional and behavioral problems.
Eliciting techniques-like sentence completion and inference chaining
E.g.; of an enquiry based on “then what?” and why in search of the client’s most relevant inference.
Disputing Irrational Beliefs
Disputing client’s irrational beliefs in order to produce a philosophical change by helping them to adopt more adaptive rational beliefs is another core therapist skill.
Disputing client’s irrational beliefs in order to produce a philosophical change by helping them to adopt more adaptive rational beliefs is another core therapist skill.
The Process of Change
RET recognizes that changing belief is hard work and requires sustained practice.
Therapists help clients use analogies such as learning and maintaining new skills- like playing the piano or learning a new language.
“As clients dispute their iBs, they are frequently involved in giving up a view of themselves, the world or others that they have greatly cherished. Repeated disputation provokes a mourning process, fluctuating grief, despair before loss is accepted.”
Existential / Psychosocial Theory
It focuses on health and wellness than pathology and mental disorders. it emphasizes individual's abilities to overcome obstacles and succeed it.
It is based on establishing more positve ways with which to perceive the human condition.
Focused on the patient's resourcefulness, strengths, talents experiences, creativity on the positive content of the patient's subconscious reservoirs of knowledge
Client-Centered Theory
It did not have the mantle and aura of medical terminology. It is non-medical in nature, functioned in a manner far removed from pathology-driven perspectives and the strict postures of psychological, biological determinism. It focused on accurate and active listening to the client.
