Compare and contrast two Mental Health theories. You may choose your theories from the textbook or from other sources. Describe each theory, including some history about the person who developed the theory and the major ideas and applications of the theory.

In the field of mental healthcare, there are many theories that explain how mental illness develops and can be treated. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Psychodynamic theory are two prominent theories within the mental health field. Both theories seek to understand the development of mental illnesses, but they are different in terms of their treatment.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT for short, is a brief psychotherapy based on evidence that focuses primarily on changing unhelpful patterns of behavior and thought to promote mental well-being. Aaron Beck created the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy theory, which has been widely adopted as a treatment for mental disorders. The idea of CBT centers on the interconnectedness between our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. We can change our negative thinking and behaviors to improve our mental well-being. CBT stresses the importance of collaboration between the patient and therapist to change and identify negative thought patterns and behaviors.

CBT is used for a wide range of mental illness, such as depression, anxiety disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder. CBT is a therapy where the therapist helps patients identify and replace negative behaviors, beliefs and thoughts with adaptive, positive ones. CBT usually follows a structure, where sessions last between 45-60 mins and are typically repeated 12-16 times.

Psychodynamic Theory, on the other hand is a way of understanding mental disorders that places a focus on early childhood memories and the subconscious mind. Sigmund Fréud first developed this theory during the early twentieth century. It has undergone many revisions since then by different theorists. Psychodynamic Theory’s primary concept is that thoughts and behavior are affected by unresolved childhood conflicts and unconscious desires.

Psychodynamic theory has been used to treat a variety of mental disorders including depression, anxiety, and personality disorders. Psychodynamic therapy helps patients identify their unconscious thoughts and emotions and the way they contribute to symptoms. The therapist helps the patient gain insight into his or her unconscious processes. This leads to greater awareness of themselves and the capacity to change their lives.

Both CBT and Psychodynamic Therapy aim to improve your mental health. However, their treatment and approach are different. CBT concentrates on changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, whereas Psychodynamic Therapy focuses understanding the unconscious. CBT typically takes place over a shorter period of time in a more structured format, while Psychodynamic therapy can take several years.

The two most important theories of mental healthcare are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT. Both approaches and treatments are different, but both work to improve mental well-being by changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. CBT is a treatment that focuses on changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Psychodynamic Theory, however, focuses more on the understanding of unconscious thoughts and emotions. The two theories are both effective at treating mental illness and continue to be applied in the field of mental health.