Compare and Contrast the Main Principles in Any Two of the Followingpsychological Therapies: Psychoanalysis, Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Therapy or Humanistic Therapy

In the counseling world today understanding psychodynamic approaches is more crucial than ever in the assessment and treatment of any psychological issue. Psychodynamic approaches such as Individual therapy, analytical therapy and psychoanalysis are similar in many ways but also differ based on the individuals own perception and circumstances. I will discuss the similarities as well difference’s and why these forms of therapy are critical in the assessment and treatment of clients.

Discuss what makes the psychodynamic approach unique. Refer to other approaches in your answer. (12 marks)

The unconscious mind houses the preconscious, a small section that houses material that is non-threatening, and easily brought to mind. But deeper in the unconscious mind are the instinctual drives, the wishes, desires, demands, and needs that are kept hidden from out conscious selves because of the conflicts and pain they would cause if they were brought to bear every day. Psychoanalytic personality theory tells us that the personality consists of three separate, but forever intermingling elements, id, ego, and superego. The id section of a personality is by far the largest, the only section that we are born with, and the section that contains the unconscious thoughts, it is raw, unorganized, and from the time of birth it tries to reduce tension caused by our primary drives. The ego, a section that develops soon after birth, balances the instinctual desires of the id and the realities of the outside world. Last of course is the superego, the final personality structure that is developed in childhood, and represent the rights and wrongs of society, contained within the superego is the conscience, the part of us that prevents us from behaving in a morally deplorable way and is responsible for guilt. Psychoanalytic personality theory is not without its virtues; Freud’s proposed five psychosexual stages – oral, anal, phallic-oedipal, latency and genital – are all supported in life.

Discuss how current counselling and psychotherapy practice emerged from psychiatry and psychology. Use critical evaluation of theoretical evidence to support discussion points. 2, Analyse the similarities and differences between psychotherapy and counselling practices using evidence, aims and objectives relevant to practice and therapeutic need.

Freud strategized that the personality was composed of three elements; the id, ego, and superego. The id is the component of personality that is present from birth, and is exclusively unconscious. “According to Freud, the id is the source of all psychic energy, making it the primary component of personality” (Cherry,1). On the other hand, the ego is the element of the personality that is responsible with reality. “According to Freud, the ego develops from the id and ensures that the impulses of the id can be expressed in a manner acceptable in the real world” (Cherry, 1). It

Humanistic therapy aims to help client develop a stronger, and healthier sense of self. It

Among these therapeutic approaches are the psychodynamic approach and the existential approach. An example of existential approach psychotherapy is the person-centred therapy that was introduced by Carl Rogers in the 1940s. Person-centred therapy (PCT) focuses on the quality of the person-to-person therapeutic relationship; it places faith and gives responsibility to the client in dealing with problems and concerns (Corey, 2009, p. 30). On the other hand, for the psychodynamic approach, Sigmund Freud, the core founder of this approach developed psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is a therapy aimed to treat mental disorder. It is a set of techniques for treating the unconscious causes of mental disorders; as well as to explain the underlying factors of how human personality and abnormality develop from childhood (Corey, 2009, p. 30). This paper examines the similarities and differences between psychoanalytic therapy and

Psychology explores human behavior and the human mental process figuring ways to improve the thinking and attitude of an individual’s existence. Sometimes, different techniques are used and tried to properly resolve the problem within the multitude of possible behavioral issues. Moreover, Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist, developed many theories, psychodynamic therapy, for clinically treating people with mental health problems through their unconscious mind; Then, Sigmund Freud’s theories or therapy, rather, diverged into other types of therapies such as Biological Psychology or Cognitive Psychology. No doubt, there are various perspectives, both strong and weak, in the field of Psychology using different techniques on different

The understanding of mental illness in society has come a long way since before Christ’s time. In the past mental illness was thought of as demonic possessions and or religious penance (Foerschner, 2010). It was Hippocrates who began to treat mental illness as a disorder and not a supernatural phenomenon (PBS, 2015). Yet, treatment of people with mental disorders in the past was not done in a humanistic manner though asylums or mental health facilities were built in order to provide care for them. These facilities gave way for developing frowned upon psychiatric treatments such as lobotomies and shock therapies which further disabled cognitive control (Freeman, 2015). Mental disorders at the time were associated with terms like lunacy, melancholies and hysteria but with time these disorders have been studied and categorized to broader groupings such as but not limited to Major Depression Disorders, Autism, Schizophrenia, Substance –Related and Addictive Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, and Personality Disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Freud’s structural and topographical model of personality, revolves around the id, ego and superego (McLeod, 2008). As a newborn, I was born with my id which allowed me to get my basic needs met. As an infant, I would cry if I was hungry or tired or just wanted to be held, I did not think of anyone else. The second part of my personality started around when I was three years old, and according to Freud this is when I began to develop my ego. An example of this would be if I was hungry I would want to satisfy my id, but at the

Freud’s structural model illustrates that within every individual there is tripartite structure consisting of the Id, Ego and Super Ego.

Compare and contrast how the psychodynamic and person-centred approaches to counselling understand the person, and how these two approaches explain psychological distress experienced by individuals. In part 2 reflect on and write about which of the two models appeals most to you and why?

According to Emery, traditional (insight) therapy can assist in understanding our problems. There are three types of psychological treatments which are traditional, behavioral, and cognitive. First, the traditional treatment would look to our past childhood experiences as a reason for depression. This is dangerous ground because if the individual has assessed their own past situations and blames no one, but the feelings can still fester within causing depression. Secondly, behavior therapy focuses on replacing bad past experiences with more current pleasant experiences. It is believed by some that we cannot move forward in life past he point of our last experience in that particular area. Thirdly, the cognitive treatment introduces a person

The ego is that personality that is shown to the real world and is also the mediator between the Id and the superego. Finally, the superego is built by the morality and belief of society for example growing up with parents and caregivers are the main source to mold the superego in individuals. To be psychologically healthy, we must successfully complete each stage. (McLeod, S, 2013). Most of the psychosexual stages are molded during childhood. Freud believed that not having a balance between the superego, ego and Id could emerged to have an imbalanced personality. Freud not only composed a theory, he also did a therapy to help individuals with mental issues. During therapy sessions, the patient or individual have permission to say what comes into their mind this approach is defined as free association. In the session is expected repressed memories to emerge from the patient. Freud reported that his free associating patients occasionally experienced such an emotionally intense and vivid memory that they almost relived the experience. (McLeod, S. 2007). After the vivid memory in the session the individual feels relieved and depending per individual the number of session given are from two to five sessions per week for a few months or even years.

As one starts to look at the different models of psychotherapies one must also look at