Evaluating Psychological Approaches for Mental Health Treatment

This essay provides a comparative analysis of three major psychological approaches: behavioral, cognitive, and humanistic. The behavioral approach, focusing on observable behaviors and environmental determinants, is evaluated for its effectiveness in treating anxiety and phobias, highlighting its ease of implementation and suitability for various ages, but also noting limitations in addressing deeper thoughts and potential for perceived dogmatism. The cognitive approach, emphasizing thought processes and mental functions, is discussed in the context of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), recognized for its efficacy in treating memory loss and learning disabilities, while acknowledging the need for active patient participation and potential unsuitability for complex psychological problems. The humanistic approach, aimed at improving self-image and self-actualization, is presented with its positive outlook and potential for healthy outcomes, but also with concerns about vague concepts and cultural relevance. Ethical considerations, such as justice, honesty, confidentiality, and informed consent, are emphasized throughout the discussion of each approach, underscoring the importance of ethical practice in psychological treatment.

Psychology

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Behavioural approach.............................................................................................................1
Cognitive approach.................................................................................................................2
Humanistic approach..............................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Psychology refers to study of mind and behaviour of an individual which get influenced by
thoughts of an individual. It includes the state of mind, thoughts, beliefs and behaviours that get
disrupted to develop various psychological issues among people (Wheldall and Merrett, 2017).
However, the psychology has main three branches including basic, human and professional
psychology. This project will focus on psychological approach with their advantages and
disadvantages in order to treat psychological disorders. It will also include the description related
to ethical implications for selected approaches to use for welfare of an individual.
MAIN BODY
Behavioural approach
The behavioural approach can be defined as an effective method that encourage to study
behavioural by observation and their respective environmental determinants. It includes the
criterion to observe behaviour of an individual very closely and relevant factors to evaluate
actual cues behind abnormal behaviour among metal patients for providing appropriate
treatment. However, the behavioural therapy involves focusing on connection between minds
and behaviour along with role of environmental factors influencing behaviours among people
(Gilpin, Stahl and McCracken, 2019). It consist the history of behavioural approach that Pavlov
published results of experiment related to dogs based on condition of digestion among them in
the year around 1897. Meanwhile, the Watson has launches school of psychology by publishing
article regarding behavioural therapy. Moreover, the behavioural approach is favourable to
treatment different disorders such as anxiety, phobias and intellectual losses including ability to
think, remember, paying attention, judging, perceiving etc. The ethical principles of justice and
honesty should be followed while providing behavioural therapy.
Advantages
 It is an easy method to include in clinical practice and simple to understand which
facilitate quick results generally.
 It includes the utilisation of small steps for shaping the behaviour and doesn’t require
specialist for implementing the same so that anyone can use it.
 It is based on the principle of reinforcing behaviour that can be repeated for better results.
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 This approach is suitable for patient of any age and ability as it results can be calculated
as well as progress can be demonstrated.
Disadvantages
 It includes is not suitable to get change in mind of people always and client may rebel
against the aspects required to be done.
 It is required for older people resent being treated like a child and it doesn’t consider the
thoughts or feelings of the patient (Dessart, Barreiro-Hurlé and van Bavel, 2019).
 It involves that punishments are often used frequently besides of rewards and this
approach can be observe as dogmatic and a punishment accordingly.
 It consist the fact that behavioural approach is responsible for recommending about
humans that they are only pleasure seeking animals.
Cognitive approach
The cognitive approach can be described as a method which has main focus on the way of
thinking of an individual to study the same. It includes to consider several aspects such as
attention, learning, memory, concept formation, reasoning, judgement & decision making,
problem solving, language processing and human perception. Basically, the history of cognitive
approach includes that it was founded by the great cognitivist named Uric Neisser and make its
official use for wellbeing of people. This approach involves two basic factors like human
cognition that can be fully revealed in scientific method via a principle and internal metal
processes which are defined in terms of rules or algorithms. Meanwhile, it is used mostly in the
form of cognitive behavioural therapy for making mental patients stable and wellbeing.
However, it has been analysed that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is much effective for
treating number of psychological problems including memory loss, dementia, Alzheimer’s
disease, brain trauma treatment, learning disabilities, speech or language disorder etc. (Rocha
and et. al., 2019). The ethical implications includes to consider factor of confidentiality and
informed consent to provide CBT for welfare of people with psychological issues.
Advantages
 The CBT is much effective as it can be used as medication for treating several mental
disorders, especially in those cases when medication is not effective alone.
 It can be completed in short duration of time as compared to other therapies because it is
time effective approach.
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 It is favourable to consider focus on re-training the thoughts ad altering behaviours for
making appropriate behavioural changes for improving condition of an individual
Disadvantages
 The patient should commit themselves in the process to gain benefits and it is not
possible without active participation of the client.
 It includes the fact that CBT has structured nature then it is not suitable for people with
complex psychological problems.
Humanistic approach
The humanistic approach refers to an effective method that can be used in counselling process
for improving condition of an individual. It has basic goal to improve the self-image and self-
actualisation of person by considering appropriate things which are helpful to make them feel
worthwhile (Powell, 2017). However, the history of this theory includes that was founded by a
great humanistic psychologist named Carl Rogers for developing personality theory for shaping
human personalities. It involves several important principles such as centrality of human values,
creative & active nature of human beings and personal worth of an individual. The humanistic
approach is suitable in terms of solving several psychological disorders such as depression,
stress, anxiety, trauma etc. It includes the use ethical implications of informed consent and
honesty while providing humanistic therapy for treatment mental illness to make an individual
disease free.
Advantages
 It has more positive outlook regarding individuals who practice the same for gaining
better outcomes.
 It is favourable to bring healthy and positive outcomes for patients as compared to other
approaches.
Disadvantages
 It has disadvantage that concepts are vague and subjective that is not applicable
everywhere.
 It is dependent on culture and irrelevant to non-western cultures where individualism and
sled centred theories are not valued then it is not suitable to use for mental patients
wellbeing.
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CONCLUSION
The above project has been concluded that psychology can be defined as study of mind and
behaviour by considering factors influencing the same. It includes use of several approaches like
behavioural, cognitive and humanistic approach for improving condition of people with
psychological disorders for their wellbeing
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Wheldall, K. and Merrett, F., 2017. Positive teaching: The behavioural approach. Routledge.
Gilpin, H.R., Stahl, D.R. and McCracken, L.M., 2019. A theoretically guided approach to
identifying predictors of treatment outcome in Contextual Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for
chronic pain. European Journal of Pain, 23(2), pp.354-366.
Dessart, F.J., Barreiro-Hurlé, J. and van Bavel, R., 2019. A behavioural approach to farmer
decision-making: the case of sustainable agriculture. Tagungsband 2018, p.70.
Rocha, M. and et. al., 2019. Addressing self-disconnection among prepayment energy
consumers: A behavioural approach. Energy Economics, 81, pp.273-286.
Powell, T., 2017. The Mental Health Handbook: A Cognitive Behavioural Approach. Routledge.
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