Elements of Ethical Psychology: Comparing Major Approaches to Clinical Psychology in Treating Depressive Disorder

This presentation compares and contrasts the major approaches to clinical psychology in relation to the treatment of depressive disorder. The psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, and family systems approaches are discussed in detail, including their origins, techniques, and effectiveness in treating depressive disorder. The presentation also covers the bio-psychosocial model, cognitive restructuring, and family psychotherapy. This presentation is relevant to students of psychology and mental health professionals.

Elements of ethical psychology
• This presentation is aimed at Comparing and
contrasting the major approaches to clinical
psychology in relation to treatment of
depressive disorder.
• The major approaches to clinical psychology in
relation to depressive disorder that will be
discussed in this presentation are
psychodynamic, cognitive- behavioral
psychology , humanistic and family systems
approaches.

Psychodynamic approach
• This approach began with psychoanalysis and Sigmund
Freud.
• Basic philosophy in this approach is that people are driven
by unconscious drives and shaped by early unresolved
childhood experiences.
• The goals of this approach are to: assist in finding ways of
satisfying frustrated needs ; reverse psychotherapy;
provide conditions for normal development of
psychosexual and psychosocial aspects; facilitate realistic
self view development; and help in building a healthy and
integrated ego (Atkinson & Wells, 2000).

Cont…
• Psychodynamic therapy does not apply much of exercises and
activities like the other types of therapy.
• It applies five major tools and techniques: psychodynamic diagnostic
manual; Rorschach inkblots; Freudian slip; free association; and
dream analysis.
• This approach, like other therapy approaches, applies meta-cognition,
prevention and treatment strategies in dealing with depressive
disorders.
• These strategies are communicated through the psycho-education
methods.
• This method would be effective in treatment of depressive disorder in
young people, however, the benefits are realized after a long time.

Cognitive Behavior Approach
• Has its origin in a merging of behavior therapy with cognitive
therapy about four decades ago, in the treatment of depression.
• This merging was pioneered by Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck.
• Involves ongoing measurement of changes in cognition and
behavior.
• This approach is base d on the tenet that potentially distressing
events per se do not determine emotional responses but rather,
an individual’s interpretation of them is the central source of
emotional distress and psycho-pathology.
- The main cognitive focus in this approach involves cognitive
restructuring.

Cont…
• This therapy has been shown to be effective in dealing
with mental health problems of different degrees
including depressive disorder.
• It uses a bio-psychosocial model in understanding the
symptoms of depressive disorder and formulating the
treatment plan.
• It applies the technique of developing its treatment
manuals for different treatment modalities.
• CBT has further adopted the use of third wave
cognitive behavior therapies.

Humanistic approach
• It focuses on the individual nature of a person.
• This approach originated from the need to address the
limitations and negative theories of behavioral and
psychoanalyst therapy approaches.
• Was pioneered by Carl Rodgers
• Behind the origin of this approach was the belief that
people are motivated inherently to fulfill their needs and
their individual potential of becoming self actualized.
• This approach has unlimited aims but majorly aims at
helping the person realize his or her real self.

Cont…
• Humanistic approach could be used for
treatment of depressive disorder in those
people with low self esteem and having
difficulty finding their purpose of reaching
their true potential.
• This approach employed philosophy,
existentialism and human growth theories and
potential to understand human behavior and
provide strategies for psychological treatment.

Family systems approach
• This approach emphasizes the understanding of the
meaning or function of a person’s symptoms within the
family unit context (Dulcan & Wiener, 2006).
• According to Dulcan and Wiener, 2006, treatment in this
approach concentrates on the various aspects of the
system that support or reinforce the depression through
family psychotherapy.
• Family therapy grew out of psychiatry through the
understanding that relational interactions among family
members have an impact on an individual’s mental health
and well being.

Cont…
• The family system therapy has been seen to be more effective in
treatment of depressive disorder in adolescents.
• Moreover, this approach is advantageous when dealing with an
individual from a cultural background that values the extended family
members like the grand parents, aunts and uncles
• The goal of the family systems approach is to enable the family identify
the dysfunctions within the family system and take appropriate actions
to correct these dysfunctions.
• This approach is based on the assumption that it requires assessment
into the family interactions to better understand an individual.
• The skills and techniques used under this approach are developed to fit
the individual client’s personality and appropriate towards attaining the
therapy goals.

References
• Dykes F.B., Postings T., Kopp B., & Crouch A. (2017). Counseling Skills and Studies. SAGE.
• Mann J.J. (2010). Models of Depressive Disorders: Psychological, Biological and Genetic
Perspectives. Boston, MA: Springer US.
• Atkinson K., & Wells, C. (2000). Creative therapies: A psychodynamic approach within
occupational therapy. Cheltenham: Thornes.
• Anonymous. (2008). Diseases and disorders. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish.
• Gabbard G.O., Becks J.S. & Holmes J. (2008). Oxford Textbook of Psychotherapy. Oxford:
Oxford University Press.
• Figley C. (2012). Encyclopedia of Trauma: An Interdisciplinary Guide. SAGE Publications.
• Plante T. G. (2013). Contemporary clinical psychology. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.
• Dulcan, M.K., & Wiener J.M. (2006). Essentials of child and adolescent psychiatry.
Arlington,VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
• CFP, B. (2018). Client Psychology. John Wiley & Sons Inc.
• Corey, M.S., Corey, G .& Corey G. (2007). Becoming a helper. Belmont,CA: Thomson
Books/Cole.