Weak Psychology
Psychology is a growing field. Since its inception, the mental health field has continued to change more each day due to new ideas by new psychologists who consider their clients’ needs. From Dr. Sigmund Freud and psychoanalysis to today’s more holistic treatment approaches, it is clear to see how far therapy has come.
Psychological treatment really depends on specific conditions. These conditions include the specific behavior of the client, what their disorder is, and how well they are able to cope with the trouble they are feeling. Another condition that is extremely important is what kind of psychologist is being visited to help the client with the problems they are having.
Holistic treatment has merits, especially in society of the 21st century. People are not the same trusting souls they were in the 1950′s. Most of those who would visit a psychiatrist or psychologist in the middle of the last century were likely taken to the professional because of bizarre behavior. People were not prone to taking the initiative to visit a psychiatrist. There was stigma associated with the field, just that few short years ago.
Currently, however, there is a greater need for mental health professionals. The growing troubles across the globe involving terrorist acts, loss of jobs, and global disasters are creating a brand new set of traumas that most people are finding themselves ill-equipped to deal with on their own. War veterans return with assimilation problems, depression, and PTSD. Typical old-fashioned ideas of therapy are not as effective in helping resolve these global world problems.
Although Adlerian therapeutic models and psychoanalysis are still used, the new breeds of problems have brought forth new ideas on how to use therapy to teach the client to help him or herself instead of the psychiatrist instructing the client toward a personal goal. Homework and practice are given in most of the new-age therapy models and more ideas are bred from their predecessors. Reality and self-help are more important.
As the mental health profession becomes more saturated with new clinical and counseling psychologists and criminals and crimes bring forth new trauma that requires attention new and more holistic methods of treating each client will need to be looked into. Mental health therapy is not a one-size-fits-all solution to all problems.
Severe mental problems like schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder will likely require medication and psychoanalysis. The average psychiatrist is less likely to encounter someone of this level of need nearly as often as they will encounter parents who wish the mental health professional to fix their child who is fifteen and engaging in dangerous behavior. Regardless of the professional, the fine line between ethical behavior and forcing an agenda is tenuous at best.