Which therapeutic orientation do you find most appealing? Why? Which therapy or
ID: 3493302 • Letter: W
Question
Which therapeutic orientation do you find most appealing? Why? Which therapy or technique is best supported by the research? Why do you think that some practitioners continue to use techniques that are not supported by research?
In therapy with children, parents are the ones who consent to the treatment. As the child’s legal guardians, they have control over the treatment and therefore have a right to know what is happening in treatment. However, if the therapist discloses to the parents what the child says (particularly older children and adolescents), this may seriously damage the therapeutic relationship. How would you resolve this tension? What would you do if a child disclosed potentially very risky behavior that did not rise to the level of overt threats of suicide?
Explanation / Answer
The therapeutic orientation that is most appealing is psychoanalysis. This is because it encourages exploration of the psyche as a whole entity and thus helps getting to the root of the problem.
The therapy technique best supported by research is the cognitive behavioural model of therapy. It shows instant results and are backed up by research. The treatment models are also based on latest research and evidence.
Some practitioners continue using techniques not backed up by research either because of their own experience with the technique or due to resonance with a particular school of thought in psychology and thus their technique.
Parents are the legal guardians of children and have the right to know what is happening in therapy. But the issue of maintaining trust and therapeutic relationship also comes into picture. In the scenario described above it is best to let the parents know the type of therapy used for their children but never the detailed description as used for their child. Also if a very risky behavioural is disclosed by a child but one that did not rise to the levels of overt threats of suicide it would be best to explore the cause of the risky behaviour, maintaining the trust of the client instead of losing out on significant opportunity to actually help the child.
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