| Psychologists talk about the "zeitgeist" - a German | | | | monthly professional magazine of the American |
| word that means the spirit of the times. In the early | | | | Psychological Association, Dr. Jonathan Shedler |
| part of the 20th century, the zeitgeist in psychology | | | | reported the results of an important meta-analysis. |
| was inarguably Freudian; the ways people thought | | | | Meta-analysis is a statistical technique that allows |
| about human behavior, human motivation, the | | | | researchers to combine the results of a large number |
| psyche, were all greatly influenced by Freud's | | | | of studies in order to understand the degree to |
| theories. B.F. Skinner's behavioral theories were | | | | which an effect is important. Individual studies can be |
| profoundly influential in the middle of the 20th | | | | informative, but meta-analyses tell researchers just |
| century, and the cognitive revolution in psychology | | | | how large or important an effect is, regardless of |
| swept the field in the 1960s and beyond. | | | | how it was measured or reported in any individual |
| Although many of these theories and perspectives | | | | article. |
| were the work of experimental research | | | | As reported in the Monitor, Shedler wrote: |
| psychologists, they were clearly influential among | | | | Psychodynamic psychotherapy, which focuses |
| clinical psychologists as well. These days, clinical | | | | self-reflection and self-examination to get at the root |
| training for psychologists is often weighted toward | | | | of suffering, is at least as effective as |
| Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which is a | | | | symptom-oriented treatments like cognitive |
| popular therapeutic approach to treating anxiety | | | | behavioral therapy or psychoactive medication, |
| disorders, depression, and a wide range of issues | | | | according to a January review of meta-analyses by |
| that bring people to therapy. What is CBT? | | | | Jonathan Shedler, PhD, a psychologist at the |
| CBT is an umbrella term encompassing a wide range | | | | University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine |
| of approaches, including Rational Emotive Behavior | | | | (American Psychologist, Vol. 65, No. 2). According to |
| Therapy, Cognitive Therapy, Rational Behavior | | | | one major meta-analysis, Shedler says, |
| Therapy, Rational Living Therapy, Schema Focused | | | | psychodynamic psychotherapy was about three |
| Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. According | | | | times more effective per treatment than the most |
| to the National Association of Cognitive Behavioral | | | | popular antidepressant medication. The benefits of |
| Therapists, these techniques share the following | | | | psychodynamic psychotherapy seem to persist and |
| characteristics: | | | | even grow larger over time, he says. |
| - they are based on the idea that our THOUGHTS | | | | Of course, other psychologists have reported similar |
| cause our feelings and behaviors; | | | | criticisms of CBT; this wikipedia page offers a starting |
| - they are brief in number - the average number of | | | | point if you want to investigate further. |
| sessions is 16; | | | | In my view, lasting change of an important type |
| - the relationship with the therapist is not the focus | | | | cannot come from such goal-directed, |
| - CBT is seen as a collaboration between the | | | | externally-driven exercises. CBT relies on a logical and |
| therapist and client; | | | | linear system, and in my experience, people in fact |
| - CBT relies on a Socratic method, and is very | | | | act globally and their actions represent the final |
| structured and directive; and | | | | common pathway that grows out of a gestalt of |
| - homework is an important part of CBT. | | | | their drives, desires, needs, and unconscious and |
| It is easy to understand why this approach might be | | | | conscious processes. True change arises from an |
| appealing to people seeking therapy; the idea that | | | | appreciation of complexity. Lasting change involves |
| you might only need to see someone 16 times and | | | | integration of different aspects of your personality, |
| your problems are fixed is undeniably appealing! | | | | of understanding why you do things, of unfolding and |
| However, it's important to look more closely at these | | | | deepening your understanding of yourself. Effective |
| approaches, and evaluate them carefully. | | | | work with a good therapist involves facilitating |
| In the March 2010 edition of the APA Monitor, the | | | | change, not directing it. |