Of the most interesting classes in Psychology major (depending who’s giving it of course) is “the History and Systems of Psychology”. I believe I had the greatest teacher for it (wink to Mr. Dietrich) as I spent a passionate semester going through methods psychologists followed around the globe across history. The course explained how we got to where we are today, and most importantly: what were the lessons learned.
I will spare you the exquisite details (as they are probably exquisite only for me), and cut right through the chase. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a precise, more concrete answer, just click here for the important part.
Dear old Sigmund Freud
Yes, everyone has heard about the big old Freud, father of psychoanalytic therapy and initiator of “the talking-cure”. Yes, he was great. Yes, he showed us great insights, some of which are still studied today. And yes therapy wouldn’t be the same without him. Now can we please move on?
Those of you in the US or in other Anglo-Saxon territories will probably not know why I’m saying this. Let me brief you quickly: I live in France, one of the last bastions of psychoanalysis. Freud is still worshipped here among his followers and most universities teach his theories quasi-exclusively.
Unfortunately, many other interesting theories are left behind, or offered to students as “optional”. Some of these give access to extraordinary therapeutic outcomes – like in the case of autism, and behavioral therapy.
But hey, I’m not here to do politics or to cause feuds about Freud (pun intended). I’m just here to move past it — and also learn from it.
So, for those who don’t know Freud, he initiated the talking-cure, which has now evolved into psychotherapy as we know it. At the time, he believed that listening and guiding patients on a divan could help pave the way to unconscious processes. This would push them to achieve insight – which he thought would lead to healing.
Freud also vulgarized dream interpretation and the Oedipus complex, as well as a variety of other theories and clinical descriptions. Of course, many of these were there before him, but he nonetheless integrated them into a unified coherently stated theory.
Psychology, science, and art
Freud was living in Vienna, but on the other part of the globe, notably in the US, a race was launched to rid psychology of unnecessary attributes, and make it a ‘real and objectifiable science’.
Little parenthesis to all the so-called scientists out there who believe Freudian psychology is scientific (or that magnetism is, or whatever green lantern is dictating your every move and making you a hero): science is a methodology, with its own set of principles.
One cannot just auto-proclaim himself into science. In order to be scientific, a theory has to adhere to very strict principles, first of which is falsifiability: being able to prove that something does not exist.
The Unconscious as Freud defined it is, by definition, unreachable, in-observable, non-measurable.The tools offered to measure it at the time were not reliable enough according to scientists’ standards.
It simply does not work.
Nevertheless, psychoanalysis is an art, or some sort of philosophy on existence. And psychology, more specifically psychotherapy, will always have an unpredictable human aspect that is dynamic, intuitive, and hard to measure. Science is important to set the norms to a reliable methodology: that’s not to say that the rest is trash. It remains interesting, worth thinking about and understanding – outside the realm of science.
Climbing on the ladder of behavioral and cognitive
With this strict methodology in mind, scientists like Pavlov, Skinner and Bandura started studying behavior. They were the first radical behaviorists and the founders of today’s field in learning psychology. Most of it feels like common sense, but it is backed up with hard wired research and empirical reasoning. Reinforcement, punishment, conditioning, learning by observations… these theories and concepts inspired a lot of therapeutically efficient techniques.
The only problem was that they completely disregarded everything in the “black box” of the human mind… Thoughts and emotions, important components of our functioning, could not be measured at the time. And in a world obsessed by keeping things “specific, observable and measurable”, they had no value whatsoever.
Nonetheless, these great scientists set the trend for what is now the leading empirical studies in psychology.
As a matter of fact, soon after that, the development of computer sciences (and eventually artificial intelligence), mobilized scientists to process what was going inside our heads. Cognitive psychologists were the first to study thought processes such as how we make decisions, how we make memories, biases we may have, and so on. All of which served to broaden our views on psychology and the functioning of the mind.
The merging of cognitive and behavioral theories gave birth to cognitive behavioral therapy which soon became the most recommended form of treatment for mental health: its results were all tested, and its efficiency proven by numerous peer reviewed articles. Cognitive behavioral therapy was also proven to be faster than others in obtaining observable solutions to anxiety and depression – a very important financial argument
The door to our emotions (and why you should definitely open it)
Nowadays, you’ve probably heard about mindfulness, acceptance, relaxation, being present… these are what we call the third waive in the cognitive behavioral evolution.
The fundamental emotional component is now being integrated empirically to top off behavioral and cognitive techniques and ensure a more complete form of treatment. The little plus? these theories have come a long way since they are rooted in ancient occidental philosophies on general well-being…
What does that mean, in a nutshell?
First, that means that cognitive-behavioral treatment is inspired by the scientific methodology described below.
Second, this means that every step of treatment has been tested before, and proven to be effective for many disorders. Among these: developmental disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders (such as depression), addictive disorders and eating disorders.
Therapist and patient will work hand in hand, just as associated researchers coming together for a cause – which is the patient’s objective. Sometimes the therapist can help make the objective clearer if the patient is confused about his motives.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Treatment Plan:
A typical cognitive behavioral therapy will go about using the following scientific methodology:
- Observe
- Make a hypothesis supported by scientific literature review ( pertaining to diagnostic/cause/method of treatment)
- Apply treatment and test the hypothesis (by checking if treatment is effective) and
- Conclude or change hypothesis.
- Observe
What is the main problem? What is it that you’re feeling? What exactly are your thoughts on the matter? How do you react when the problematic situation occurs? By answering all of these questions together, we will determine, if possible, the origin of the problem, but mostly what is maintaining it today and what we can do about it.
- Make a hypothesis supported by scientific literature review ( pertaining to diagnostic/cause/method of treatment)
By that time, the case should be so clearly presented that a patient could draw his own treatment plan with the help of his therapist’s input and feedback.
- Apply treatment and test the hypothesis (by checking if treatment is effective)
This is generally the longest part of therapy. Cognitive, behavioral, and emotional techniques will be implemented through various exchanges with the therapist. In a nutshell, we will address the way you deal with your emotions by breaking down behaviors and thought processes that are affecting your well being on a daily basis. You will receive homework in between sessions to make sure that the conclusions reached in session are applied in your everyday life as well.
- Conclude or change hypothesis.
Ideally, treatment will end with mutual agreement when the patient is feeling better. We will then work on preventing relapses and when we are both satisfied with the results, treatment will end.
In more resisting cases, we will collaboratively exchange on difficulties observe and readjust treatment. Is treatment has been correctly implemented, this could mean that we need to review our hypothesis and address the problem differently.. For optimized results good communication between patient and therapist is essential on all levels, but in particular at this stage.
Benefits and Results:
Among the definite benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is knowledge about problematic behavior, better understanding of one’s own emotion/behavior/thought patterns and biases, and an increased sense of mastery over them. Depending on the problematic, the associated pathologies, the patient’s involvement, motivation and surrounding environment, it could take more or less time to resolve symptoms.
One thing’s for sure, you won’t be fighting alone and you will be taking the best possible route on the market.
