Infographic 14.1: Major Approaches to Therapy

The flowchart consists of 19 text boxes, connected in branching groups, by arrows. There are two major approaches to therapy, shown in text box 1 and 2. Text box 1 reads “Individual: Involves a one-on-one relationship with a therapist.” Text box 2 reads “Group: Involves one or more therapists working with multiple people.” Text attached to boxes 1 and 2 reads “Manner of delivery: The first dimension focuses on the type of relationship between therapist and client. In individual therapy, the therapist-client relationship can be highly personal and can be a tool for understanding certain issues. In group therapy, the therapeutic effect comes from exposure to those with similar issues and the therapist’s observations of the client’s interactions with others.” Text box 1 splits into text boxes 3 and 4. Text box 3 reads “Biomedical: Using drugs or other medical interventions, focuses on the biological basis of a disorder.” Text box 4 reads “Psychological: Focuses on psychological factors.” Text box 2 connects to text box 5, which reads “Psychological: Focuses on psychological factors.” Text attached to boxes 3, 4 and 5 reads “Treatment approach: Choices in approach are about an individual’s history, disorder severity, and the efficacy of the approach for a particular disorder.” Text box 3 connects to text box 6, which reads “Eclectic approach: Uses a combination of methods to tailor treatment for each client; as seen here, can involve the medical model.” Text box 4 splits into text boxes 7 and 8. Text box 7 reads “Behavior therapies: Focus on behavioral change”. Text box 8 reads “Insight therapies: Focus on increasing awareness of self and environment.” Text box 5 connects to text box 9, which reads “Insight therapies: Focus on increasing awareness of self and environment.” Text attached to boxes 6, 7, 8, and 9 reads “Theoretical Perspective: The third dimension represents the therapist’s specific theoretical perspective. It is common to include an eclectic approach involving a combination of behavior, insight, and biomedical treatments.” Text box 6 splits into boxes 10, 11, and 12. Box 10 reads “Psychopharmacology: Uses medicine to alter perceptions, moods, and behaviors.” Box 11 reads “Electroconvulsive therapy: Induces seizures in the brain.” Box 12 reads “Neurosurgery: Destroys some portion of brain or connections between different areas of brain.” Box 7 is connected to box 13, which reads “Behavior therapy: Using principles of learning, seeks to replace maladaptive behaviors.” Box 8 splits into boxes 14, 15, 16, and 17. Box 14 reads “Psychoanalysis: Seeks to increase awareness of unconscious conflicts.” Box 15 reads “Psychodynamic: New approach to psychoanalysis.” Box 16 reads “Humanistic: Emphasizes positive nature.” Box 17 reads “Cognitive: Seeks to change maladaptive thoughts.” Box 9 splits into boxes 18 and 19. Box 18 reads: “Family: Focuses on the family as an integrated system.” Box 19 reads “Group: Preferred approach for interpersonal issues.” Text attached to boxes 10 through 19 reads “Major forms of therapy: Different types of therapies have different aims and methods.”