Culture and Religion Influencing One’s Perspective on the Value of Psychotherapy Treatments

Culture and Religion Influencing One’s Perspective on the Value of Psychotherapy Treatments

Culture and religion have a significant critical influence on one’s perspective on the value of psychotherapy treatments. Some religious/ spiritual clients seek psychotherapy that integrates religious values, while others may be reticent to disclose religious aspects of struggles in a presumably secular setting (Vieten & Lukoff, 2022). In most cultures and religions, consulting a mental healthcare provider is condemned where mental issues are seen as a personal weakness, making one feel done the wrong thing, hence keeping their mental suffering for themselves and eventually leading to serious mental problems. Despite some cultures and religions condemning psychotherapy treatment, others appreciate consulting for therapy dealing with mental problems requiring professional treatments. For instance, in most western countries, therapy is considered a critical aspect of healthcare where it is widely accepted. Some cultural beliefs on the causes of mental disorders and the appropriate ways of treating the disorders can also have a notable influence on one’s perspective on the value of psychotherapy treatments. This can be seen in cultures where they believe that mental disorders can be treated by supernatural or spiritual factors and can be treated by religious leaders or traditional healers (Kpobi & Swartz, 2022). Religion and culture shape and, at the same time, misshapes one’s perspective on the value of psychotherapy treatment. It is essential to consider such factors when dealing with mental problems to ensure that clients receive treatment regarding their cultural and religious beliefs.

Legal and Ethical Considerations for Group and Family Therapy Differing from those for Individual Therapy

Group and family therapy can significantly differ from individual therapy in a series of ways. Some of these ways include confidentiality. Individual therapy therapists are governed by laws and ethical codes to have confidentiality and not to expose any data on the client without their knowledge. On the other hand, in group and family therapy, confidentiality is essential because this is a union of many individuals involved. The therapist must balance maintaining confidentiality with communication and collaboration among group members (Sasangohar et al., 2020). Another form in which individual therapy differs from group and family therapy is through informed consent. For individual therapy, informed consent is extracted from the client while starting the treatment. For group and family therapy, informed consent is obtained from the client and the members of the firm or the group. Lastly, individual therapy can differ from group and family therapy through group dynamics. In group and family therapy, a dynamic communication procedure is used between the client, which develops unique ethical and legal considerations compared to individual therapy, which does not use a dynamic communication process. Group and family therapy can develop unique legal and ethical considerations that may require therapists to change compound interpersonal dynamics while adhering to ethical and legal standards.

Conclusion

Psychotherapy is a variety of treatments that aim to help a person recognize and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Psychotherapy can demand a variety of biological basis such as neuroplasticity, brain chemistry, genetics, stress response, and brain imaging that indicates the connection between psychological and biological problems in mental health and welfare. Culture and religion can influence one’s perspective on the value of psychological treatments, which at times can be of help and, at the same time, lead to severe consequences of mental disorders. Individual therapy can differ from group and family therapy in various ways. Group and family therapy can develop unique legal and ethical considerations that may require therapists to change compound interpersonal dynamics while adhering to ethical and legal standards. A mental healthcare provider needs to know the differences between individual therapy and group and family therapy.

References

David, D., Cristea, I., & Hofmann, S. G. (2018). Why cognitive behavioral therapy is the current gold standard of psychotherapy. Frontiers in psychiatry, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00004