Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis essay assignment discussion example

Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis essay assignment discussion example

Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis essay assignment discussion example

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Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis essay assignment discussion example

Many studies have found that psychotherapy is as effective as psychopharmacology in terms of influencing changes in behaviors, symptoms of anxiety, and changes in mental state. Changes influenced by psychopharmacology can be explained by the biological basis of treatments. But how does psychotherapy achieve these changes? Does psychotherapy share common neuronal pathways with psychopharmacology? For this Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis essay assignment discussion example

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Evaluate biological basis of psychotherapy treatments
• Analyze influences of culture, religion, and socioeconomics on personal perspectives of psychotherapy treatments

To prepare:

• Review this week’s Learning Resources.
• Reflect on foundational concepts of psychotherapy.

Note: For this Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis essay assignment discussion example, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking Submit!

By Day 3

Post an explanation of whether psychotherapy has a biological basis. Explain how culture, religion, and socioeconomics might influence one’s perspective of the value of psychotherapy treatments. Support your rationale with evidence-based literature. Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis essay assignment discussion example.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues by providing an additional scholarly resource that supports or challenges their position along with a brief explanation of the resource.

Submission and Grading Information

Explanation of Whether Psychotherapy Has a Biological Basis

Practicing as a psychiatric mental health practitioner is not a profession that is geared towards implementing direct care for people to provide immediate recovery (Holttum, 2014). Yet, it is a profession that is recovery-focused and involves taking the time to learn about people, believing in their strengths, while supporting their personal recovery, goals, and endeavors opposed to focusing on their problems (Holttum, 2014). Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis essay assignment discussion example. Thus, the avenue by which this is done is through psychotherapy (Holttum, 2014). According to Wheeler (2014), there are various psychotherapy approaches that may be used as a psychological intervention for people with mental illness. Additionally, psychotherapy has been proven to have a biological basis similar to the biological treatment that may be seen through the use of medications (Aboujaoude, 2009). For example, Aboujaoude (2009) explains how evidence has proven through brain imaging research that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) produces alterations in the brain that is similar to the changes that are produced by psychotropic medications. Hence, this evidence proves that psychological interventions can modify an individual’s symptoms (Aboujaoude, 2009). An example of this can be seen in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Patients with OCD present with neuronal hyperactivity that is measured by an increased rate of glucose metabolism that can be observed on a positron emission tomography (PET), particularly in the caudate nucleus region of the brain (Aboujaoude, 2009). Thus, psychotropic medications such as Prozac or psychotherapy treatments such as CBT have been proven to reduce the rate of glucose metabolism and improve OCD symptoms (Aboujaoude, 2009). Hence, giving CBT the appearance of working as a biological treatment like psychotropic medications (Aboujaoude, 2009). Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis essay assignment discussion example.

Explanation of How Culture, Religion & Socioeconomics Influence the Perspective of the Value of Psychotherapy Treatments

Culture          

            In order to effectively diagnose and treat clients with mental illness, the mental health practitioner would need to consider the client’s culture, religion, and socioeconomic influences to determine how to appropriately provide psychotherapy treatments (Wheeler, 2014). Although it is not imperative to have a vast knowledge base regarding numerous cultures, practitioners should have a working knowledge of the client’s background and research their culture (Wheeler, 2014). Making cultural generalizations will not be helpful when it comes to distinguishing how to work specifically with diverse individuals (Wheeler, 2014). Thus, to be effective, mental health care professionals should be willing and open to ask genuine questions pertaining to their client’s culture while admitting to ignorance and allowing teaching moments by their patients (Wheeler, 2014). Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis essay assignment discussion example. When practitioners acknowledge that they may make mistakes regarding their client’s culture and may need to be corrected at times, it will decrease the power imbalance in the client-practitioner relationship while strengthening the therapeutic connection and alliance (Wheeler, 2014). In addition, practitioners should assess his/her own cultural competency by identifying personal prejudices and biases towards diverse cultures and assessing their knowledge of the client’s cultural-bound illnesses, and worldviews (Wheeler, 2014). Also, mental health professionals should evaluate their desire for being culturally competent as well as evaluating their ability and skill to conduct cultural assessments and culturally based physical exams (Wheeler, 2014). According to Wheeler (2014), an individual’s culture has the tendency to shape their judgments, attributions, and perceptions. Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis essay assignment discussion example. Therefore, when mental health practitioners have patients from different cultural backgrounds they should inquire how the client feels about working with them which may open up dialogue concerning any issues that could influence the value of psychotherapy treatment (Wheeler, 2014).

Religion

On the other hand, religion may influence one’s perspective of the value of psychotherapy treatments by recognizing how its theme may provide both harmony and balance in the client’s life or the very opposite (Prieto, Simao, & Nasello, 2007). Some practitioners have found that complexities may occur when religion is addressed during psychotherapy due to the diverse concepts pertaining to spirituality and religion (Prieto, Simao, & Nasello, 2007). Needless to say, mental health professionals should have a high quality of skills, knowledge, and exhibit ethical professionalism when integrating religious and spiritual aspects of the client’s life during psychotherapy treatment (Prieto, Simao, & Nasello, 2007). Thus, collecting and aligning information based on the patient’s values and beliefs will be a beneficial tool during the therapeutic process (Prieto, Simao, & Nasello, 2007). Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis essay assignment discussion example. For example, practitioners should identify the relevance of whether religion or spiritual variances play a role in the clinical traits presented, as well as researching the role that religion plays in the client’s belief system (Prieto, Simao, & Nasello, 2007). The representations of God along with religious ideals should also be identified to determine its relevance and clinically approached (Prieto, Simao, & Nasello, 2007). According to Prieto, Simao, and Nasello (2007) adding religious or spiritual problems as a diagnostic category in the DSM-IV acknowledges how both spiritual and religious principles can be the center of psychotherapy treatment. However, practitioners must be careful not to influence their clients with their own personal religious, moral, or political values for by doing so will not only violate the therapeutic contract but will also reduce the client’s freedom and the therapist’s neutrality (Prieto, Simao, & Nasello, 2007). Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis essay assignment discussion example.

Socioeconomics

An individual’s socioeconomic status can highly influence the perspective of the value of psychotherapy treatments. For example, Kim and Cardemil (2012) explain how psychotherapy processes are generally grounded in a middle-class worldview and can fail to meet the needs of clients from a lower socioeconomic class. Kim & Cardemil (2012) further explicate how research has shown that people from low-income backgrounds are not as likely to seek mental health services as higher socioeconomic classes would. Thus, when individuals with low-income do seek mental health services they are less likely to receive interventions that are evidence-based and more likely to discontinue services prematurely (Kim & Cardemil, 2012). Other factors that affect the continuity of mental health services for low-income individuals might include lack of transportation, child care, cultural diversities, and mistrust in the mental health care system (Kim & Cardemil, 2012). On the other hand, mental health practitioners may also face psychological barriers of their own when working with clients from a lower socioeconomic class that can affect the client’s treatment (Kim & Cardemil, 2012). Barriers might include feeling overwhelmed by their client’s despondent circumstances, negative stereotypes, and negative idealizations of individuals with low-income (Kim & Cardemil, 2012). Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis essay assignment discussion example. Thus, such attitudes can create blind spots in providing adequate care leading to the assumption that psychotherapy would not be beneficial for this class (Kim & Cardemil, 2012). Therefore, in order to overcome such barriers, mental health professionals will need to devote explicit attention to social class issues during the psychotherapy process

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