Dictionary of Biological Psychology
Psychotherapy is an umbrella term that refers to any treatment regime—a therapy—that relies upon a psychological technique or theory. It does not refer only to PSYCHOANALYSIS (though it includes this: the terms psychotherapy and psychoanalysis are not synonyms: psychoanalysis is a form of psychotherapy).
Psychotherapy can include COGNITIVE-BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY, a structured, flexible and time-limited approach to the treatment of a broad range of clinical problems, and COGNITIVE THERAPY, a short-term, focused form of treatment placing emphasis is on examination and modification of the patient’s thoughts and beliefs. It can also include BEHAVIOUR THERAPY, an approach to maladaptive or unwanted behaviour based on CLASSICAL CONDITIONING procedures. From the perspective of biological psychology the critical point to consider here is that any form of psychotherapy can be conducted without reference to neuroscience: it is based on an understanding and use of psychological processes.
See also: medical model
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