Many kinds of psychological treatments are available, differing in their procedures and clinical assumptions. This chapter starts by describing the history and development of psychotherapy in general and then provides an overview of the best-known schools of thought in psychotherapy today. We compare the theoretical foundation, treatment goals, therapy techniques, and therapist role of each of the following approaches: Traditional and contemporary cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapy, humanistic and person-centered therapy, and systemic therapy. Because CBT is the most empirically supported and extensively researched approach, we provide a more in depth coverage of its learning principles, such as classical (Pavlovian) and operant conditioning, and the development of behavior therapy. We describe the cognitive influence and the emergence of traditional CBT with efficacious therapy techniques, such as distinguishing thoughts from feelings and behaviors (the three component model of psychological distress), cognitive restructuring, behavioral experiments and exposure, and contingency management. Furthermore, we discuss the more recently established mindfulness-based approaches, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and dialectical behavior therapy. Another commonly utilized approach is psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapy. We describe Freud’s topographic and structural models and the psychosexual stages with traditional psychoanalytic therapy techniques, such as free association, analysis of transference and countertransference, analytic interpretation and dream analysis. A brief overview of some newer psychodynamic therapies, such as analytical, individual and ego psychology, object relation, self-psychology and relational psychology is also provided in this section. The third psychotherapy approach described in this chapter is the humanistic or person-centered psychotherapy. This non-directive approach highlights the two parts of the self (the real-self and the ideal self) and motivates the client towards self-actualization (i.e. Finding congruence between the real-self and the ideal-self). The therapeutic relationship, in which the therapist exhibits empathy, positive regard, and genuineness, is the vital mechanism responsible for achieving this goal. The last psychotherapy approach described in this chapter is systemic therapy. This approach focuses on individuals in their social context and is nowadays synonymous with relation or family therapy. In this section we describe structural therapy, communication or strategic therapy and intergenerational or Bowen family therapy. In summary, CBT has the most empirical support and contains the most effective therapy techniques. Understanding the processes through which therapeutic change occurs and disseminating efficacious treatments through new technologies will continue to warrant future research on psychotherapy. The field will continue to embark on the journey of understanding which therapeutic techniques work for which individual, under which context and why.
