Mental health diseases without pharmacologic interventions.

adebisi tijani

WK1

Collapse

Biological Basis of Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy exhibits a heavy reliance on evidence-based practices dealing with brain functions and mental health disorders. However, critics question the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic approaches in treating mental health diseases without pharmacologic interventions. Yet, this field remains fundamental in the management of various mental health conditions, an indication that the field of psychotherapy has biological foundations, which can be used to achieve positive outcomes in treating mental health conditions attributed to stress.

Wheeler (2014) defends the biological aspects of psychotherapy, noting that practices in this field mediate the rehabilitation and construction of maladaptive neural networks that are caused by adverse life experiences, which facilitates psychological healing. For instance, psychotherapy has emerged as an effective treatment intervention for various mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorders, anxiety, and severe depression. Holttum (2014) points out that psychotherapy has a significant impact on regions that are linked to psychological responses such as negative emotions, reward, fear, and emotional regulation. Such features are further indicators of the biological basis of this discipline.

Nonetheless, individual factors like socioeconomic, religion, and cultural background affect how people construct the value of psychotherapy. Practitioners in this field must exhibit cultural competence and sensitivity when dealing with clients from diverse populations. Wheeler (2014) postulates that cultural factors permeate all aspects of human life, including conscious and intuitive actions. For example, discussing past trauma with clients from a culture that perceives crying is a sign of weakness can impede psychotherapy treatment. According to Kim et al. (2018), religion is also essential in psychotherapy because it affects how clients interpret lived experiences and hence coping mechanisms.

References

Bernal, D. R., Becker Herbst, R., Lewis, B. L., & Feibelman, J. (2017). Ethical Care for Vulnerable Populations Receiving Psychotropic Treatment. Ethics & Behavior, 27(7), 582-598.

Holttum, S. (2014). When bad things happen, our brains change, but psychotherapy and support can help the recovery of our brains and our lives. Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 18(2), 52–58. doi:10.1108/MHSI-02-2014-0006

Wheeler, K. (Eds.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

PLEASE REPLY POST WITH AT LEAST 3 EDUCATIONAL ARTICLE CITE PROPERLY IN APA FORMAT. Thanks