Introduction to Psychological

Interventions
Chapter 11
 Defining Interventions
 Broadly, interventions is a method of inducing
changes in a person’s behavior, thoughts, or
feelings.
 Intervention in the context of a professional
relationship-a relationship sought by the client
or the client’s guardians (for minors).
 Defining Interventions
 Psychotherapy maybe sought for:
1. Improvement of problems or impairment
2. Prevention of problems
3. Increasing one’s ability
 Used interchangeably—intervention and
psychotherapy
 Formal Definition
• Psychotherapy is a form of treatment for
problems of an emotional nature in which a
trained person deliberately establishes a
professional relationship with a patient with
the object of removing, modifying or retarding
existing symptoms, of mediating disturbed
patterns of behavior, and of promoting
positive personality growth and
development.
 Formal Definition
• Psychotherapy is a planned, emotionally charged,
confiding interaction between a trained, socially
sanctioned healer and a sufferer. During this interaction
the healer seeks to relieve the sufferer’s distress and
disability through symbolic communications, primarily
words but also sometimes bodily activities. The healer
may or may not involve the patient’s relatives and others
in the healing rituals. Psychotherapy also often includes
helping the patient to accept and endure suffering as an
inevitable aspect of life that can be used as an
opportunity for personal growth.
 Is Psychotherapy Effective?
• Efficacy and Effectiveness
 A treatment is considered efficacious to the
extent that the average person receiving the
treatment in clinical trials is demonstrated to
be significantly less dysfunctional than the
average person not receiving any treatment
(e.g., those on a waiting list for treatment).
 Is Psychotherapy Effective?
• Efficacy and Effectiveness
 A range of clients and range of therapists
(sometimes with varied training and
supervision) are included. A treatment is
considered effective to the extent that clients
report clinically significant benefit from it.
Effectiveness studies may or may not include
control groups or random assignment.
 Is Psychotherapy Effective?
According to Clara Hill (2004),
psychotherapy is mostly found to be
generally effective
Features of Common to Many Therapies

1. Relationship/Therapeutic Alliance
 Accepting
Non-judgmental
Objective
Insightful
Professional
Features of Common to Many Therapies

2. The Expert Role

Is the therapist competent more that
these warm qualities?
NOTE: Mutual respect not
authoritarian stance of therapist
 Course of
2. Building Competence/Mastery
Assisting client develop self-efficacy

3. Non-specific Factors
Factors other than therapy
 Maybe therapist’s or client’s inherent
factors
 Course of Clinical Intervention
1. Initial Contact
 Different emotions/thoughts of clients
 Explain basics about the clinic to
ensure positive attitude + willingness
 CLARIFY the REASON FOR REFERRAL
Don’t forget the ethics
 Course of Clinical Intervention
2. Assessment
What are the relevant assessment methods
involved (Interview, Observations, Norm-
referenced psych test, informal psych test)?
 Integration after the assessment
 Assessment methods DO NOT diagnose,
professionals do.
 Sensitivity is needed in integrating (culture,
language, SES, etc barriers)
 Course of Clinical Intervention
3. Goals of Treatment
Agreement between client and
therapist/helper about the trajectory
of treatment
 Realistic goals
 Include ethical considerations
 Course of Clinical Intervention
4. Implementing Treatment
 What techniques?
 What areas are being targeted?
Specific vs broad
 Informed consent
 Course of Clinical Intervention
5. Termination, Evaluation, and Follow-
up
 Stages of Change
1. Pre-contemplation
 client has no intention of changing
his/her behavior in the near future
 feelings of napilitan
 Stages of Change
2. Contemplation
 aware of his/her problem but has
not yet committed to trying to make
changes.
 Stages of Change
3. Preparation
a client intends to make a change in
the near future.
 Stages of Change
4. Action
clients are changing their
maladaptive behaviors, emotions,
and/or their environment.
 Stages of Change
5. Maintenance
the client works on preventing
relapses and on furthering the gains
that have been made during the
action stage.
 Stages of Change
6. Termination
 the client has made the necessary
changes, and relapse is no longer a
threat
 Stages of Change

What do you think is the

importance of going through the
stages of change?
 The 3-stage Helping Skills

1. Exploration
(thoughts/emotions)
2. Insights (interpretation)
3. Actions (behavioral
change/plans)
 Applying: The 3-stage Helping Skills

Let’s watch this! =>

Asynchronous Activity:
1. What is the importance of knowing client’s
readiness to change? Explain your answers.
2. What will be your basis for psychological
interventions if your client is a farmer with very
low English literacy? How are you going to conduct
assessment?

Due: November 27, 2021

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