Therapeutic Approaches
This domain tests the major therapeutic traditions, their key techniques, and the matching of treatment to disorder.
Psychodynamic therapy
Freud's psychoanalysis explores unconscious conflict through free association, dream analysis, transference and resistance. It is long-term and insight-oriented.
Behaviour therapy
Techniques are based on learning theory: systematic desensitisation (graded exposure with relaxation) for phobias; aversion therapy for unwanted habits; token economies and shaping; modelling. These are action-oriented and symptom-focused.
Cognitive and cognitive-behavioural therapy
Beck's CBT targets distorted thoughts (catastrophising, overgeneralisation) and tests them against evidence. Ellis's rational emotive therapy disputes irrational beliefs. CBT is structured, present-focused and widely evidenced.
Humanistic therapy
Rogers's client-centred therapy provides unconditional positive regard, empathy and genuineness to promote self-actualisation.
Biomedical and alternative approaches
Psychotropic drugs (antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, mood stabilisers) act on neurotransmitters; ECT is used in severe cases. Yoga and meditation are complementary.
Worked example
A client with a dog phobia is taught relaxation, then exposed in graded steps from imagining a dog to approaching one. This is systematic desensitisation, a behaviour therapy based on counterconditioning.
Traps
Psychoanalysis is not CBT. Systematic desensitisation is not flooding. Drugs treat symptoms but do not by themselves teach skills. Unconditional positive regard is a humanistic, not behavioural, concept.