Let’s explore the principles of psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is a strategy using professional knowledge to help people who are mentally struggling to improve their lives. The meaning of psychotherapy can vary with each type, but at its core, the principle of all psychotherapy is to improve the person’s distressed mind.
1. Definition of Psychotherapy
The psychological definition of psychotherapy is the professional activity of solving psychological distress or problems using psychological expertise to enhance the quality of life.
Understanding the definition of psychotherapy is essential to grasp the principles of psychotherapy.
Although there are many types of psychotherapy, each academic discipline may have slightly different definitions, but they generally do not deviate significantly from the definition above.
Typically, when people experience psychological pain, they may use avoidance strategies such as suppressing emotions, diverting attention, worrying, or obsessively ruminating, but avoidance usually does not resolve the issues.
The definition of psychotherapy ultimately refers to the process of using effective and professional therapeutic theories and strategies to help clients develop healthy habits and lead better lives.
2. Background of Psychotherapy
Psychology is a discipline that merges philosophy and science. Although psychology itself has not been around for very long, philosophy as a study of human nature has continued for thousands of years.
Within psychology, psychotherapy specializes in analyzing and treating psychological distress. The background of psychotherapy is based on psychology, psychiatry, and various humanities.
Early psychotherapy included Freud’s psychoanalysis, Carl Jung’s analytical psychology, and behavioral therapies by Pavlov, Watson, and Skinner. Modern psychotherapy includes cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapies combined with mindfulness meditation, and more.
There are thousands of psychotherapeutic methodologies, among which those that are scientifically proven and systematized are known as evidence-based psychotherapies.
These include cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, schema therapy, interpersonal therapy, trauma therapy, motivational interviewing, and emotionally focused therapy.
3. Goals of Psychotherapy
The goals of psychotherapy can vary depending on the principles of each therapy. Typically, human responses include cognition, behavior, emotion, and physiology, which continuously interact with one another.
For example, certain thoughts can cause physical tension and anxiety, leading to avoidance behaviors, which might reinforce feelings of inadequacy and lead to depression.
Depending on which aspect is emphasized—cognitive-behavioral therapy focusing on thoughts and behaviors, emotionally focused therapy emphasizing emotions, or somatics dealing primarily with the body—the goals of psychotherapy can differ.
However, the ultimate aim of all psychotherapy is to alleviate the discomfort associated with our sensory responses to reduce suffering.
4. Effectiveness of Psychotherapy
In many psychiatric departments of hospitals, medication treatment is prominently applied. However, when there are mental symptoms, it is advisable to combine psychotherapy for fundamental healing.
While it may vary from person to person, medication might feel more convenient. Regardless of convenience, as time goes on, psychotherapy can be more helpful in one’s change and can be more advantageous for self-control than merely temporary medication solutions.
Studies using brain imaging techniques like MRI and PET scans have shown that the brain’s condition improves post-psychotherapy, similar to improvements seen with medication. Some studies report that combining medication and psychotherapy can double the effectiveness.
Conclusively, from a neuroscience perspective, psychotherapy is as effective as medication treatment and can be considered a fundamental mental health treatment.
5. Principles of Psychotherapy
The principles of psychotherapy can vary as much as the goals of different therapies. This discussion aims to present the principles of psychotherapy from a neurological perspective.
1) Principles of Psychotherapy1 – Utilizing the Neocortex
One feature that distinguishes humans from animals is the development of the neocortex, which is involved in various cognitive functions.
However, with the development of the neocortex, human imagination also advanced, allowing us to imagine painful pasts or disastrous futures, which can cause distress.
Typically, negative emotions (anxiety, depression, anger) arise because the amygdala within the limbic system of the mammalian brain triggers these feelings.
If we recall a traumatic past or envision a catastrophic future, our brain may perceive these as reality, causing the amygdala to trigger feelings of anxiety or anger.
Ultimately, the principle of psychotherapy involves using the neocortex to modify thoughts, thereby regulating the amygdala’s function that causes negative emotions.
2) Principles of Psychotherapy2 – Modulating the Amygdala
As mentioned, the principle of psychotherapy involves regulating the amygdala through the use of the neocortex. However, if it were possible to directly modulate the amygdala, that would be the optimal approach.
To date, no technology has been developed to directly control the amygdala, so we must rely on maximizing the use of the neocortex.
Recent psychotherapeutic techniques include visualization exercises, often used in schema therapy, an advanced form of cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Our unconscious summoning of past or future events that cause anxiety, anger, or depression is linked to schemas—deeply held beliefs about the world and others formed during childhood.
By using visualization to alter these schemas, we can potentially weaken the amygdala’s response, effectively modulating it through the psychotherapeutic process.
The methods of psychotherapy can vary depending on the type of therapy. For people with mental illnesses, there are various suitable treatment options, and it is recommended to combine psychotherapy with medication treatment. If you have learned about the principles of psychotherapy, try to find the psychotherapy method that suits you!
6. Conclusion and Q&A
We have explored the definition, background, goals, and effectiveness of psychotherapy, and discussed the principles of psychotherapy through various questions and key points.
1) What is the definition of psychotherapy?
The definition of psychotherapy can ultimately be seen as a process that reduces a person’s psychological distress and enhances the quality of life.
2) How effective is psychotherapy?
Using Brain MRI, PET Scans, and other imaging techniques to observe the process before and after psychotherapy reveals that changes in the brain can resemble those seen after medication treatment. It can be more effective than medication and, in the long term, it is considered to be closer to fundamental treatment.
3) What are the principles of psychotherapy?
The principles of psychotherapy ultimately involve using the functions of the neocortex (thinking) to regulate the amygdala, which is responsible for making us feel painful emotions.
If you are interested in learning more about cognitive-behavioral therapy principles or the Eastern psychological practice of mindfulness meditation training, please refer to the links below!
► Information Source and References
[Book] “The Upward Spiral” – Alex Korb
[Book] “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy” – Judith S. Beck, Ph.D.
[Book] Meta Research Institute Program Lectures – Younghee Choi, Sangyu Choi
– Be the Titan Brain
