Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

Ahead

 
The therapy that helped young Marg MacKrell start to enjoy a 
more normal life again is just one of many that have revolution-
ized the treatment of psychological disorders. Although treat-
ment can take dozens of forms that range from one-meeting 
informal counseling sessions to long-term drug therapy, all the 
approaches have a common objective: the relief of psychological 
disorders with the ultimate aim of enabling individuals to achieve 
richer, more meaningful, and more fulfi lling lives. 
Despite their diversity, approaches to treating psychological 
disorders fall into two main categories: psychologically based 
and biologically based therapies. Psychologically based therapy, 
or psychotherapy, is treatment in which a trained professional—
a therapist—uses psychological techniques to help someone 
overcome psychological diffi
culties and disorders, resolve 
problems in living, or bring about personal growth. In psycho-
therapy, the goal is to produce psychological change in a person 
(called a “client” or “patient”) through discussions and interac-
tions with the therapist. In contrast, biomedical therapy relies 
on drugs and medical procedures to improve psychological 
functioning. 
As we describe the various approaches to therapy, keep in 
mind that although the distinctions may seem clear cut, the 
classifi cations and procedures overlap a good deal. In fact, many 
therapists today take an
eclectic approach 
to therapy and use a 
variety of methods with an individual patient. Assuming that 
both psychological and biological processes often produce 
psychological disorders, eclectic therapists may draw from 
several perspectives simultaneously to address both the psycho-
logical and the biological aspects of a person’s problems (Goin, 
2005; Berman, Jobes, & Silverman, 2006).
psychotherapy 
Treatment in which a trained professional—a 
therapist—uses psychological techniques to help a person overcome 
psychological diffi
culties and disorders, resolve problems in living, or 
bring about personal growth.