What is Psychotherapy? Does Psychotherapy influence brain structure and/or function? If yes, how is it going on? And how can those changes be measured? Do all the types of psychotherapy do/fulfil similar changes?
Main approaches to psychotherapy:
There are a lot of types of psychotherapy, not easy for me to list them all here, but, I will mention the main approaches, which most of the other therapies are derived from them. They are as follows:
Psychodynamic approach: the broadly known figure of this approach is its founder Dr. Sigmund Freud. He was a Viennese Neurologist. His famous classic work is Interpretation of Dreams. He described dreams as the Royal Way to Unconsciousness. He utilized dream interpretation to understand unconscious/internal life to solve the complexes by making them conscious.
Behavioral approach:
B. F. Skinner and others: Suggested that humans are born a blank slate, and the environment is responsible for shaping their behaviour and personality. This approach gives birth to learning theories. It ignored the role of genes, physiology, evolutionary bases and nutrition in influencing human behavior.
-Cognitive approach: suggested that mental disorders are results of our false or irrational interpretation of situations.
-. Humanistic/Existential approach: focus on human freedom, responsibility, death anxiety and the meaning of life.
And, Eclectic/Integrated Therapies.
The Role of Neuroplasticity:
Talking about the effects of psychotherapy on the brain's function and structure leads us to the essential and contemporary topic of neuroscientific studies which is neuroplasticity because it is what explains to us the changes that happen to the brain literally (Wiring and Rewiring).
Contemporary findings confirmed that Neuroplasticity starts with the birth of human beings through his/her different stages and levels of development until death.
A new study conducted by researchers at Aarhus University reveals how breathing shapes our brains. It describes how it impacts our attention, emotions and other functions.
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