NCMHCE - Theories and Techniques

Short-Term Goals/Treatments

Focus is not increased function, but restoration of function. Should have potential to reduce sx and develop coping skills (if stressor lies outside the control of the client).

Intermediate Goals/Treatments

Focus on transferring progress already made to a different setting/relationship. Anything that builds up a short-term goal.

Long-Term Goals

Implications of change in deeply ingrained patterns and responses. Deep intrapsychic conflicts may be resolved.

Relationship Between Level of Function and Goals

The lower the client's level of function, the more specific the goals must be. High functioning, the goals may be general. Reality testing differentiates low functioning from moderate functioning. Meeting role obligations differentiates moderate functioni

Selecting Appropriate Interventions

Efficient and effective help for the client is the objective. Techniques should be selected that provide the greatest reductions in symptoms, largest increase in function, and most reduction in stressors.

Person-Centered Techniques

For use with high functioning.
For use with disorders involving self-esteem/confidence and help in goal setting.
Techniques: acceptance, unconditional positive regard, empathy, reflection, support, clarification, open-ended, modeling, rapport building.

Behavioral Therapy

Targets Dysfunctional Behaviors
Works by altering actions. If the simulation describes sx in terms of behaviors, use behavioral. For use with low to moderate functioning. (Eating, CD, Substance, Impulse, Conflict, Phobias, Sexual, Suicidal, Relapse, some

Tracking Improvement

Self-report/review of data.
Compliance with tx, appointments, referrals.
Lessening of symptoms.
Improvement of functioning.
Accessing information from other treatment providers.

Cognitive Dysfunction

When symptoms are described in terms of cognitive dysfunction, the need for a cognitive technique is indicated.

Rational Emotive Therapy

Useful for the treatment of Depression, Anxiety mild situational Disorders and Bulimia

Cognitive Techniques are Contraindicated When...

Family has a history of bipolar, scizophrenia, cognitive disorder, or mental retardation.

Cognitive Techniques

Analysis of dysfunctional thinking patterns, cognitive restructuring, hypothesis testing, mental/emotional imagery, modeling, thought stopping, meditation, self-talk, record of dysfunctional thoughts, diaries, letter writing, rating systems, hourly mood g

Existential Psychotherapy

Goal of changing meaning. Indicated for high functioning individuals. Particularly those with a V code.
Those with mild to moderate depression or anxiety, help coping with life threatening illnesses, situational concerns, seeking meaning in life.

Gestalt Counseling

Used in combination with cognitive & behavioral approaches. Indicated for moderate to higher functioning individuals.
Good for those with somatic complaints, provides access to feelings with the goal of unblocking.
Gestalt often targets anger, grief, anxi

Adlerian Psychotherapy

Lifestyle results from private logic. Indicated for those with issues of goals and directions, parent-child problems, acting-out behaviors, career crises, marital concerns, or low self-confidence. Focuses on healthy or unhealthy coping skills.

Prolonged Psychoanalysis

Indicated for those with hysteric or phobic disorders.
Contraindicated for those with paranoia, borderline personality disorder, obesity problems.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

For high functioning individuals with V Code disorders, personality disorder, Multiple Personality Disorder.
Short term can be beneficial for depression, anxiety, and situational disorders with repeated patterns.

Adjustment Disorders and V Codes

Objectives: symptom relief, improvement of coping skills, and restoration to a least prior functioning.

Anxiety Disorders

Objectives: reduction of anxiety, improved management of stress. Development of socialization skills, sense of matery.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety management program.
Computer Based Training.
Relaxation.
Antidepressants or azapirones may be indicated, but do not recommend pharmacological interventions.

Panic Disorder

Panic Control Treatment.
Computer Based Training.
Relaxation.
Bibliotherapy.
Panic education.
Antidepressants may help. Do not recommend medications.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Exposure therapy.
Anxiety Management Training.
Cognitive Processing.
Antidepressants may be indicated.

Mood Disorders

Objective: overall adjustment, mood stabilization, alleviation of depression and mania, enhancement of coping skills, improvement of relationships and prevention of relapse.

Disorders of Behavior and Impulse Control. Including Eating Disorders, Sexual Disorders, Sleep Disorders, Psychoactive Substance Use, and Other Impulse-Control Disorders.

IObjective: Reduction of dysfunctional behavior and acquisition of positive behaviors, behavior change.
Emphasis on Behavior Therapy with a multifaceted approach.
Behavior and Impulse Control Techniques::: Education, measurement of changes, improved commu

Anorexia and Bulimia

Medical assistance and nutritional counseling must be combined with family therapy for significant change to occur. Hospitilization may be required.
Anorexia and Bulimia Techniques::: Behavioral approaches to stabilize eating patterns, Insight oriented ps

Sleep Disorders

Insomnia stimulus control therapy.
Sleep restriction therapy.
Relaxation trianing.
CBT.
Benzodiazepines, Zolpidem, and antidperessants may be effective. Do not recommend medication.

Disorders Combining Physical and Psychological Factors

Objectives: Reduced somatization, constructive expression of feelings, stress management, improved socialization, relaxation, positive use of leisure time.

Personality Disorders

Objectives: Improvement in social and occupational functioning, increased communication skills, raised self-esteem, enhancement of coping skills, developing a sense of responsibility. Long-term modification of underlying dysfunctional personality patterns

Disorder Involving Loss of Contact with Reality

Objective: restoration of contact with reality, enhancement of coping mechanisms, maximizing adjustment to the disorder. Relapse prevention. Providing assistance to family members. Working through appropriate care-related decisions.

Schizophrenia

Behavioral therapy.
Social Learning Programs.
Family Education.
Social Skills Training.
Vocational Rehabilitation.
Antipsycotics may be helpful. Do not recommend medication.

Sexual Disorders

Must rule out underlying mental health conditions such as Anxiety Disorder or Depression. Bichochemical or medication-induced explinations should be explored.

Orgasmic Disorders in Women

Cognitive Behavioral Approaches focus on anxiety reduction and attitude change. Increasing positive feelings and frequency of orgasm. When non-orgasmic symptoms are rooted in traumatic experiences, insight-oriented are indicated.

Dyspareunia

Behavior Therapy may employ systematic desensitization.
Sensate Focus.
Imagery Techniques.
Cognitive Restructuring.
Relationship Interventions.
Supportive Psychotherapy.
Lubrication Assistance.
Surgery may be necessary. Do not recommend treatments.

Vaginismus

Relaxation.
Desensitization.
Guided fantasy.
Self-Control activities.
Supportive Psychotherapy.
Kegel.

Premature Ejaculation

Challenging self-defeating cognitions.
Establishing cooperative partner relationships.
Behavioral interventions: start & stop therapies.
Antidepressants may be prescribed. do not recommend medication.

Erectile Dysfunction

Behavioral therapy targeting performance anxiety.
Cognitive therapy focused on covering scripts.
Individual therapy.
Systematic Desnsititization.
Learning non-intercourse sexual techniques.
Sensate Focus.

Hypoactive Sexual Desire

Masturbatory training

Male Orgasmic Disorder

Genital stimulation

Paraphilias

CBT
Aversive Conditioning

Treatment of Children

Two methods are considered effective:
Insight-oriented approaches and Behavior-based approaches.
Insight for Children: Focus on feelings within experiences, play therapy, Adlerian therapy.
Behavior for Children: rewards, consequences, reinforcement, behav

Treatment of Adolescents

Three techniques are considered the most useful:
1. Reality Therapy.
2. Peer Culture Groups.
3. Social Skill Training.
In reality therapy, use of contracts and success/failure identity concepts may provide helpful therapeutic considerations.

Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder

Objective: Increasing child's ability to learn and manage impulses.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder

Primary treatment setting will most likely be a residentail treatment program, day program, or combined school and community facility.

Elimination Disorders

Focus on symptom through behavioral approaches.
Dry bed techniques.

Modalities

For the purposes of the exam only 3 modalities exist:
Individual, Family, and Group
Determine what a client's most important need is and use the technique and modality that best fits that need.

Individual Therapy

Recommended for clients who have little connection with others, withdrawn, highly anxious, or introverted.
If the client is suspicious, antisocial, hostile or destructive, individual therapy is better than group work.
Those who do not deal with ambiguity

Group Therapy

Clients who need reality testing and group feedback.
Recommended for those who may feel stigmatized, scapgoated by individual therapy. For interpersonal behavioral concerns. Anxious clients who experience authority concerns benefit, as well as those who g

Family Therapy

For families with severe pathology but experiencing communication difficulties within the family structure.
When intergenerational conflict arises.
When more than one family member needs help.

Existential Techniques:::

encouraging responsibility. Clarification of options. Life review to discover meaning. Development of belief system. Paradoxical interventions.

ODD and CD Techniques:::

Focus on consequences, reinforcements, or rewards. Methods that delay impulses by using cognitive strategy such as "stop, listen, think." Anger Management.

ADHD Techniques:::

Focus primarily on behavior techniques. Enhancing learning environement through reduction of distractions. Training teachers. Instruction on time management. Stress management and relaxation techniques.

Loss of Contact Techniques:::

Targets symptom eliminiation or reduction. Individual therapy is the usual mode. Hypno therapy for amnesia. Psychodynamic for Multiple Personality. Behavioral therapy for developing coping mechanisms and stress management. Group therapy is not generally i

Personality Techniques:::

Individual therapy is primary with family therapy accompanied. With improvement, group therapy may be useful. Psychodynamic approaches are generally used. To promote changes in relationships cognitive interventions may be used. Medication is rare.

Gestalt Techniques:::

Unfinished business, giving voice to physical sensation, dream exploration, empty chair, top dog & under dog, exaggeration of feelings and actions, confrontation, and encouragement of awareness of responsibility.

Somataform Techniques:::

Physical examination should be part of the assessment process. Individual therapy is the primary mode. Family therapy may help. Holistic approach with cognitive, behavioral, and affective therapies combine the most effective modality.

Depression Techniques:::

Cognitive-Behavioral Techniques are the most effective. Target overgeneralization, perfectionistic thinking, and tendency to catastrophize. Training in communication skills, help in decision making, assertiveness training, increasing pleasurable activitie

Anxiety Techniques:

physical exam generally indicated. Cognitive-Behavioral and behavior therapy. In-vivo work well as well, except in the case of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Anxiety management, relaxation, guided imagery, stress inoculation, problem solving, progressive m

Adjustment Techniques:

crisis intervention, brief psychodynamic, stress management. Short-term interventions are most appropriate.

Psychodynamic Techniques:::

transference, exploration of dysfunctional patterns, relationship history, discussion of dreams, childhood memories, hypnotherapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, unconscious conscious, interpretation.

Adlerian Techniques:::

Life script, guided imagery, empowerment and encouragement, birth order, early recollections, role-playing, natural consequences, and development of social interest.