Question

Angelina is suffering from depression. Once a week, she sees a therapist and, with the therapist's help, she has begun to explore her past experiences and how they might have contributed to her depression. In addition, Angelina's therapist has Angelina begin to adopt new ways of thinking about the current events in her life. Angelina's therapist is most likely using which type of therapy?

a. Humanistic therapy

b. Behavioral therapy

c. Psychotherapy

d. Biomedical therapy

Answer 1

Angelina's therapist is most likely using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a form of psychotherapy that combines cognitive and behavioral techniques to address her depression. CBT involves altering both the way she thinks about events and her behavior in response to them, and it is effective in treating depression and anxiety. b. Behavioral therapy

Step-by-step explanation:

Angelina's therapist who is seeing her once a week and is working with her to explore past experiences and adopt new ways of thinking about her life is most likely using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is a type of psychotherapy that combines cognitive and behavioral approaches to address psychological issues. It emphasizes the role of thinking in how we feel and what we do, indicating that Angelina's new thinking patterns about current events, as well as understanding the impact of her past experiences, are key components of CBT.

The process includes identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and beliefs (cognitive part) and changing behavior in ways that can alter how one experiences life's situations (behavioral part). This dual approach helps individuals like Angelina alter their depressive thought patterns to improve their mood and overall mental health. The integration of these techniques is consistent with the cognitive-behavioral processes mentioned in Figure 1.16, which illustrates how therapies take into account cognitive processes and behaviors when providing psychotherapy.

Additionally, the influence of key figures in psychology such as Freud and Rogers is evident in Angelina's therapy. Although CBT is different from the psychoanalytic and client-centered therapies that these figures developed, elements of understanding the individual's history (psychoanalysis) and the empathic approach (client-centered) can also be integrated within a CBT framework. Thus, the use of CBT does not exclude the potential influences of other therapeutic models.

Furthermore, CBT has been shown to be as effective as antidepressant medication for conditions such as depression and anxiety, according to a meta-analysis comparing psychotherapy to medication. This suggests the potential efficacy of Angelina's therapy approach to mitigate symptoms of depression.