Glossary
Active Listening
A communication technique used in humanistic therapy where the therapist fully concentrates on, understands, responds to, and remembers what the client is saying.
Example:
A therapist demonstrating active listening might paraphrase what the client just said to confirm understanding and show empathy.
Aversive Conditioning
A behavioral therapy technique that pairs an unwanted behavior with an unpleasant stimulus to reduce the frequency of that behavior.
Example:
To stop nail-biting, someone might apply a bitter-tasting polish to their nails, using aversive conditioning to create a negative association.
Behavior Modification
The application of operant conditioning principles to change human behavior, typically by reinforcing desired behaviors and discouraging unwanted ones.
Example:
Parents might use behavior modification by giving their child a sticker for every chore completed, leading to a reward after earning a certain number of stickers.
Behavioral Psychology
A psychological perspective that focuses on observable behaviors and the principles of learning, asserting that maladaptive behaviors are learned and can be unlearned.
Example:
A therapist operating from the behavioral psychology perspective would focus on changing a client's specific actions rather than their underlying thoughts.
Biomedical Therapy
Therapeutic approach that uses medical interventions, such as medications, to treat psychological disorders by addressing physiological symptoms.
Example:
A psychiatrist might prescribe an antidepressant medication to help a patient manage symptoms of depression, which is a form of biomedical therapy.
Client-Centered Therapy
A humanistic therapy developed by Carl Rogers where the client leads the discussion, and the therapist provides a supportive, non-directive environment.
Example:
In client-centered therapy, the therapist might mostly listen and reflect the client's feelings, allowing the client to discover their own solutions.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
A widely used therapeutic approach that combines cognitive restructuring with behavioral techniques to challenge negative thoughts and promote positive behaviors.
Example:
For someone with social anxiety, CBT might involve identifying thoughts like "everyone will judge me" and then practicing social interactions in a safe environment.
Cognitive Psychology
A psychological perspective that focuses on mental processes such as thinking, memory, perception, and problem-solving, and how these influence feelings and behaviors.
Example:
A therapist using principles from cognitive psychology would help a client identify and challenge their negative thought patterns.
Cognitive Restructuring
A cognitive therapy technique that involves identifying, challenging, and changing irrational or maladaptive thought patterns into more realistic and positive ones.
Example:
If someone thinks "I always fail," a therapist might help them with cognitive restructuring to reframe it as "I've had some setbacks, but I can learn from them."
Cognitive-Behavioral Psychology
A psychological perspective that integrates cognitive and behavioral principles, focusing on how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected.
Example:
A therapist using cognitive-behavioral psychology would address both a client's negative thinking patterns and their avoidance behaviors.
Conditioning
A learning process in which associations are made between a stimulus and a response (classical conditioning) or between a behavior and its consequences (operant conditioning).
Example:
A dog learning to salivate at the sound of a bell because it's been repeatedly paired with food is an example of classical conditioning.
Counterconditioning
A behavioral therapy technique that involves replacing an unwanted or maladaptive response to a stimulus with a new, desired response.
Example:
To overcome a fear of public speaking, a therapist might use counterconditioning by pairing relaxation techniques with imagining speaking in front of a crowd.
Cultural Norms
The shared rules, expectations, and behaviors that are considered acceptable or appropriate within a specific cultural group or society.
Example:
Understanding the cultural norms around expressing emotions can help a therapist better understand a client's communication style.
Eclectic Approach
A therapeutic orientation that combines techniques and ideas from various therapeutic approaches to best suit the needs of the individual client.
Example:
A therapist might use cognitive-behavioral techniques for anxiety but also incorporate humanistic principles like unconditional positive regard, demonstrating an eclectic approach.
Hierarchies (in Systematic Desensitization)
A ranked list of anxiety-provoking situations or stimuli, ordered from least to most distressing, used in systematic desensitization.
Example:
For someone with a fear of flying, their hierarchy might begin with looking at pictures of planes and end with taking a long-haul flight.
Humanistic Psychology
A psychological perspective that emphasizes personal growth, self-awareness, and the inherent goodness of people, aiming to help individuals reach their full potential.
Example:
A therapist rooted in humanistic psychology would focus on a client's strengths and their capacity for self-improvement.
Id, Ego, Superego
According to Freud's psychodynamic theory, these are the three interacting parts of the personality: the primitive Id, the realistic Ego, and the moralistic Superego.
Example:
When you want to eat an entire cake (Id) but decide to only have one slice because you know it's healthier (Ego), your Id, Ego, and Superego are interacting.
Insight (Psychodynamic)
In psychodynamic therapy, the client's conscious awareness and understanding of the unconscious conflicts and motivations underlying their psychological problems.
Example:
A client might gain insight when they realize their current fear of commitment stems from an unresolved childhood abandonment issue.
Interpretation (Psychodynamic)
In psychodynamic therapy, the therapist's explanation of the client's dreams, free associations, resistance, and transference to help them gain insight into unconscious conflicts.
Example:
A therapist might offer an interpretation that a client's recurring dream of being chased represents their feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities.
Problem-Solving (in Cognitive Psychology)
A cognitive therapy technique that helps clients develop and implement effective strategies to cope with challenging situations and reduce distress.
Example:
A therapist might guide a client through problem-solving steps to address their financial stress, such as budgeting or seeking employment resources.
Psychodynamic Psychology
A psychological perspective that emphasizes the influence of unconscious drives, conflicts, and early childhood experiences on current behavior and mental health.
Example:
A therapist using psychodynamic psychology would explore a client's past relationships and dreams to uncover hidden conflicts.
Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
A confrontational cognitive therapy developed by Albert Ellis that challenges irrational beliefs and assumptions that lead to emotional distress.
Example:
An REBT therapist might directly challenge a client's belief that "everyone must like me" by asking for evidence, using Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy.
Resistance (Psychodynamic)
In psychodynamic therapy, the client's unconscious efforts to block the process of therapy, often by avoiding discussion of certain topics or showing up late.
Example:
A client repeatedly changing the subject whenever their childhood is brought up might be demonstrating resistance to exploring painful memories.
Self-Actualization
The ultimate goal in humanistic psychology, representing the process of fulfilling one's full potential and achieving personal growth.
Example:
A person pursuing their passion for art and continually striving to improve their skills and express themselves is working towards self-actualization.
Social Interactions
The ways in which individuals communicate and relate to one another, influencing personal well-being and mental health.
Example:
A lack of positive social interactions can contribute to feelings of loneliness and depression in an individual.
Sociocultural Psychology
A psychological perspective that examines how social and cultural factors, such as norms, values, and social interactions, influence an individual's behavior and mental health.
Example:
A therapist informed by sociocultural psychology would consider how a client's cultural background or socioeconomic status impacts their experience of depression.
Systematic Desensitization
A type of exposure therapy that gradually reduces a client's anxiety by pairing relaxation with increasingly anxiety-provoking stimuli.
Example:
A person with a phobia of heights might start by looking at pictures of tall buildings, then videos, and eventually visit a low balcony, using systematic desensitization.
Talk Therapy
A broad category of psychotherapy that involves verbal communication between a therapist and client(s) to explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Example:
During a session of talk therapy, a client might discuss their daily struggles and emotional responses with their therapist.
Token Economy
A behavior modification system where individuals earn tokens for desired behaviors, which can then be exchanged for privileges or tangible rewards.
Example:
In a classroom, students might earn tokens for good behavior, which they can later trade for extra free time or small prizes.
Transference (Psychodynamic)
In psychodynamic therapy, the client's unconscious redirection of feelings and attitudes from significant past relationships (e.g., parents) onto the therapist.
Example:
A client who becomes overly dependent on their therapist, similar to how they relied on a parent, is experiencing transference.
Unconditional Positive Regard
A core principle of humanistic therapy where the therapist accepts and supports the client without judgment, regardless of what they say or do.
Example:
Even if a client admits to making a mistake, a therapist offering unconditional positive regard would maintain a non-judgmental and accepting stance.
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
A therapeutic technique that uses simulated environments to expose clients to anxiety-provoking situations in a controlled and safe manner.
Example:
A veteran with PTSD might use virtual reality exposure therapy to safely confront combat-related triggers in a simulated environment.