Biological Basis and Ethical-Legal Considerations of Psychotherapy

Biological Basis and Ethical-Legal Considerations of Psychotherapy

Biological Basis of Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is talk therapy in which the patient collaborates with the psychologist or psychiatrist to help solve mental and emotional problems. Psychotherapy can help patients overcome grief, trauma, and mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Most research has shown that people treated with psychotherapy can get better and function in their normal lives. Many individuals have benefited from psychotherapy. Psychotherapy has a biological basis since it improves the behaviors and emotions of individuals, and it is associated with positive changes in the human brain (Wiswede et al., 2014). The benefits of psychotherapy include less disability and improved quality of life

Researchers have used brain imaging strategies to observe the changes in the brains of individuals who have received psychotherapy. Many studies have revealed brain changes in individuals with panic disorders, depression, and other mental conditions after psychotherapy (Wiswede et al., 2014). These brain changes are similar to those of individuals who are under pharmacotherapy. Psychotherapy thus modulates brain functions, hence affecting mood and emotions.

Effect of Culture, Religion, and Socioeconomic Status on Perception of Psychotherapy

Even though psychotherapy is an effective treatment modality, several factors can influence how clients perceive it. These factors include culture, religion, and socioeconomic status. Psychotherapy involves communication, and hence, therapists must be culturally competent to handle their clients. Culture defines how individuals think. Clients who come from cultures in which it is prohibited to share fears may find it hard to share their fears with the therapist, which may negatively impact treatment with psychotherapy. When choosing a psychotherapy plan, religion is an important factor that therapists must consider (Charzyńska & Heszen-Celińska, 2019). Religion is also an important factor in how patients receive psychotherapy. Individuals from different religions have different beliefs. Some people may be comfortable opening up to individuals they feel are religious figureheads.

Socioeconomic status is also an important factor in psychotherapy. People from a lower socioeconomic status have greater dysfunctionality in mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. These individuals disagree on treatment goals, are likely to drop out of psychotherapy, and have poor clinical outcomes (Levi et al., 2018). Clinicians must thus be aware of this and implement patient-centered care.

Ethical Considerations for Group Therapy

For both group and individual therapy, ethical principles must be ensured. The therapist must ensure the privacy and confidentiality of patients (Stoll et al., 2020). The clinician must set rules to ensure that this is maintained. The difference between group therapy and family is that privacy is not just with one patient but maybe a couple of patients. Hence, the therapist must know how to handle this issue since patient confidentiality is critical in therapy. Anything shared in family and group therapy remains in the group and is not shared with individuals who are not part of the therapy group. The therapist must be aware that therapeutic dynamics in group and family therapy are very different. The therapist must establish a therapeutic alliance with all patients instead of forming a therapeutic alliance with one patient. The members of family and group therapy must feel free in the session, and they must not feel that they will be judged by whatever they say in the session.

The articles that have been used in this paper are all scholarly articles. All the names of the authors have been included. The authors’ affiliations have also been included. The language in the paper is very technical. They have been published in reputable academic journals. Finally, all the work in these articles has been cited, and a section for the bibliography has been included.

References

Charzyńska, E., & Heszen-Celińska, I. (2019). Spirituality and mental health care in a religiously homogeneous country: Definitions, opinions, and practices among Polish mental health professionals. Journal of Religion and Health, 59(1), 113-134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-019-00911-w

Levi, U., Laslo-Roth, R., & Rosenstreich, E. (2018). Socioeconomic Status and Psychotherapy: A Cognitive-Affective View. J Psychiatry Behav Health Forecast. 2018; 1 (2), 1008.

Stoll, J., Müller, J. A., & Trachsel, M. (2020). Ethical issues in online psychotherapy: A narrative review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00993

Wiswede, D., Taubner, S., Buchheim, A., Münte, T. F., Stasch, M., Cierpka, M., Kächele, H., Roth, G., Erhard, P., & Kessler, H. (2014). Tracking functional brain changes in patients with depression under psychodynamic psychotherapy using individualized stimuli. PLoS ONE, 9(10), e109037. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0109037

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Biological Basis and Ethical-Legal Considerations of Psychotherapy

Many studies have found that psychotherapy is as effective as psychopharmacology in terms of influencing changes in behaviors, symptoms of anxiety, and changes in mental state. Changes influenced by psychopharmacology can be explained by the biological basis of treatments. But how does psychotherapy achieve these changes? Does psychotherapy share common neuronal pathways with psychopharmacology?

Psychotherapy is used with individuals as well as in groups or families. The idea of discussing confidential information with a patient in front of an audience is probably quite foreign to you. However, in group and family therapy, this is precisely what the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner does. In your role, learning how to provide this type of therapy within the limits of confidentiality is essential.

For this Discussion, you will consider whether psychotherapy also has a biological basis and analyze the ways in which legal and ethical considerations differ in the individual, family, and group therapy settings.

To prepare:

• Review this week’s Learning Resources, reflecting on foundational concepts of psychotherapy, biological and social impacts on psychotherapy, and legal and ethical issues across the modalities (individual, family, and group).
• Search the Walden Library databases for scholarly, peer-reviewed articles that inform and support your academic perspective on these topics.

By Day 3

Post an explanation of whether psychotherapy has a biological basis. Explain how culture, religion, and socioeconomics might influence one’s perspective on the value of psychotherapy treatments. Describe how legal and ethical considerations for group and family therapy differ from those for individual therapy, and explain how these differences might impact your therapeutic approaches for clients in group, individual, and family therapy. Support your rationale with at least three peer-reviewed, evidence-based sources, and explain why each of your supporting sources is considered scholarly.

Attach the PDFs of your sources.