Class 12 Psychology - KARNATAKA
Therapeutic Approaches
The chapter 'Therapeutic Approaches' in Class 12 Psychology explores various methods used to help individuals overcome psychological distress, behavioral issues, and mental health disorders. It covers the nature and process of psychotherapy, therapeutic relationship, and different schools of therapy including Psychodynamic, Humanistic-Existential, Behaviour, and Cognitive therapies. Students also learn about biomedical therapy, alternative therapies like yoga and meditation, and the rehabilitation of mentally ill patients. This chapter is vital for board exams as it tests both conceptual understanding and application-based knowledge, frequently featuring case studies and comparative questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Psychotherapy
A voluntary relationship between a trained professional and a person suffering from psychological problems, aimed at removing emotional distress and changing behavior.
Transference and Counter-transference
In psychodynamic therapy, transference occurs when the client redirects feelings about others onto the therapist, while counter-transference happens when the therapist projects their own feelings onto the client.
Systematic Desensitization
A behavioral technique introduced by Joseph Wolpe based on reciprocal inhibition, used to treat phobias by pairing anxiety-producing stimuli with deep relaxation.
Cognitive Restructuring
A core technique in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) where irrational, negative beliefs are identified and replaced with more rational, adaptive thoughts.
Client-Centred Therapy
Developed by Carl Rogers, this humanistic approach provides a warm, empathetic, and non-judgmental environment (unconditional positive regard) to help clients achieve self-actualization.
Biomedical Therapy
Medical treatments for psychological disorders, such as the use of psychotropic medications (antidepressants, antianxiety drugs) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Karnataka (KSEEB) Class 12 Psychology board exam, this chapter typically carries around 8 to 10 marks. Questions usually include 1-mark multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blanks, 2-mark short answers defining key techniques (like token economy or free association), and 5-mark long-answer questions requiring detailed explanations of specific therapies or comparative analysis between different therapeutic approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between psychodynamic therapy and humanistic therapy?
Psychodynamic therapy focuses on uncovering unconscious conflicts and past childhood experiences, whereas humanistic therapy focuses on personal growth, self-acceptance, and conscious choices in the present.
How does systematic desensitization work for phobias?
It works on the principle of reciprocal inhibition. The therapist creates an anxiety hierarchy from least to most feared situation and teaches the client relaxation techniques so they can remain calm while imagining or facing the feared stimulus.
Are biomedical therapies used alone or with psychotherapy?
Biomedical therapies, such as medications, are often used in combination with psychotherapy for severe mental disorders to provide immediate relief of symptoms while therapy addresses underlying behavioral and emotional patterns.
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