AP Psychology: Clinical Treatment & Interventions

Psychotherapy

An interaction between a trained therapist and someone suffering from psychological difficulties, aiming for personal growth or symptom relief.

Psychoanalysis

The first strict form of psychotherapy developed by Sigmund Freud, focused on uncovering repressed feelings to provide insight.

Goal of Psychoanalysis

To bring repressed feelings into conscious awareness for effective processing.

Free Association

A technique where patients verbalize thoughts freely to bypass the ego's censor.

Dream Analysis

Interpreting the manifest content of dreams to uncover latent content or hidden meanings.

Transference

The redirection of feelings from one relationship onto the therapist.

Psychodynamic Therapy

A modern evolution of psychoanalysis, focusing on current relationships and symptom relief.

Client-Centered Therapy

Humanistic therapy developed by Carl Rogers that emphasizes self-fulfillment and growth.

Core Conditions of Client-Centered Therapy

Conditions necessary for effective therapy: genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and empathy.

Active Listening

A technique in therapy where the therapist reflects and clarifies what the client says.

Behavioral Therapies

Therapies that focus on changing problematic behaviors through learning principles.

Counterconditioning

A technique that links new, positive responses to previously feared stimuli.

Exposure Therapy

Treating anxieties by exposing the person to the feared object or context.

Systematic Desensitization

A specific type of exposure therapy that gradually exposes patients to anxiety-triggering stimuli.

Aversive Conditioning

Associating an unpleasant state with unwanted behavior to eliminate it.

Cognitive Therapy

A type of therapy that helps individuals rethink negative thought patterns.

Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

Created by Albert Ellis; a confrontational therapy that challenges illogical beliefs.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

An integrative approach that combines cognitive and behavioral techniques.

Psychopharmacology

The study of how drugs affect mind and behavior in therapy.

Antipsychotics

Medications used primarily to treat schizophrenia by blocking dopamine receptors.

Antianxiety Medications

Drugs that decrease CNS activity, used for anxiety disorders.

Antidepressants

Medications that increase serotonin or norepinephrine levels for treating depression.

Mood Stabilizers

Medications used to stabilize episodes of mania and depression in bipolar disorder.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A biomedical therapy using electric currents to treat severe depression.

Evidence-Based Practice

An approach combining the results of multiple studies to determine effective therapy types.

The Therapeutic Alliance

The emotional bond between therapist and client, crucial for successful therapy.

Negative Reinforcement

Strengthening a behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus.

Tardive Dyskinesia

A potential side effect of long-term antipsychotic use, characterized by involuntary muscle movements.

Regression to the Mean

The natural tendency for extreme responses to average out over time.