Biological basis of psychotherapy

Biological basis of psychotherapy

Post an explanation of whether psychotherapy has a biological basis. Explain how culture, religion, and socioeconomics might influence one’s perspective of the value of psychotherapy treatments. Support your rationale with evidence-based literature.

Foundations of Psychotherapy: The Influence of Culture, Religion, and Socioeconomics

For mental health nurse practitioners, the meticulous collection of data is a fundamental step in formulating the right diagnosis. To ensure a comprehensive understanding of their clients, they must gather a wealth of information from all facets of the patient’s life. According to the American Nurses Association (2014), psychiatric nurse practitioners bear the responsibility of collecting comprehensive information from their clients, covering a wide range of aspects, including psychiatric, substance use, physical, functional, psychosocial, emotional, cognitive, sexual, cultural, age-related, environmental, spiritual/transpersonal, and economic assessments. This holistic approach is essential for understanding how each of these factors influences the daily life of their clients.

The aim of this discussion is to elucidate how culture, religion, and socioeconomics may significantly influence an individual’s perspective on the value of psychotherapy treatments.

Cultural Factor

Culture plays a pivotal role in shaping an individual’s approach to mental health and problem-solving. To effectively assist their clients, psychotherapists must take into account how cultural norms and practices can impact both positively and negatively on their clients. Integrating cultural factors into psychotherapy can enhance the acceptability and adherence to treatment (Banerjee & Sharma, 2020). In some cultures, seeking alternative methods to address mental health issues, such as psychotherapy, is a preferred choice as it does not involve the use of medication. Additionally, psychotherapy has demonstrated its efficacy in addressing mental health concerns, making it the primary choice for some clients (Laureate Education, 2016).

Lucas Callahan Bipolar Disorder Subjective Data Collection

The acceptability of psychotherapy within a given culture can be a win-win situation, benefiting both the client and society at large. What’s intriguing is that various therapeutic approaches can be effective, and the choice of therapy is often based on individual client needs (Dr. Richard Bentall, Laureate Education, 2015e). The work of nursing theorist Hildegard Peplau further emphasizes the importance of considering culture in the context of person, environment, and health. Peplau’s theory posits that individuals are evolving organisms attempting to reduce anxiety stemming from their needs. The environment, including cultural influences, plays a critical role in this process, ultimately affecting the individual’s health and overall well-being (Petiprin, 2016).

Religion Factor

Spiritual beliefs, often deeply rooted in religious convictions, hold significant sway over many individuals. Some patients seek guidance from religious leaders, such as pastors, in matters of mental health. Recognizing and respecting these beliefs can make a substantial difference in the effectiveness of psychotherapy. The Role of Modeling and Role Modeling Theory views humans as holistic beings, where the mind, body, emotions, and spirit function as an interconnected unit, dynamically influencing each other. This underscores the significance of conscious and unconscious processes, with spirituality being a critical component (Petiprin, 2016).

Incorporating religious or spiritual values into psychotherapy can have varying impacts. Some clients may actively seek psychotherapy that integrates their religious or spiritual beliefs, while others might be reticent to disclose such aspects in a secular setting (Captari et al., 2018). It’s important to understand that religion can significantly influence an individual’s perspective on life events, including how they view death, which can be particularly relevant when dealing with issues like suicide and depression. Different religious beliefs may accept or reject certain behaviors, impacting the choices individuals make (Klaus Baumann & Frank-Gerald B. Pajonk, 2014).

Socioeconomics Influence

Socioeconomic status, defined by measures like income, education level, occupation, and community of residence, is a critical factor that can influence an individual’s access to mental health services. Socioeconomic status is often categorized as high, middle, or low (Berman, 2019). Socioeconomic factors often spark debates, especially regarding access to healthcare services, and they can affect how individuals in high societal positions are perceived when they require psychotherapy. Furthermore, life events that alter one’s socioeconomic status can also significantly impact the client.

Research indicates that life events, especially those linked to low socioeconomic status, can impair mental health. While historical environmental circumstances are often considered in psychotherapeutic practice, events that transpire during the course of counseling and psychotherapy, referred to as “intercurrent” events, have received less attention in research but can have a substantial influence (Blackshaw, Evans, & Cooper, 2018).

Conclusion

In conclusion, a comprehensive understanding of the client is fundamental for mental health nurse practitioners. This understanding goes beyond the diagnosis and includes cultural background, religion, socioeconomic status, family history, drug use, and educational level. Viewing the client holistically enables healthcare professionals to identify the most suitable psychotherapy for the client and facilitates a more effective and timely recovery process. Taking into account cultural, religious, and socioeconomic factors is critical in ensuring that psychotherapy is not only acceptable but also effective in addressing the client’s unique needs and circumstances.

References

American Nurses Association. (2014). Psychiatric-mental health nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Standard 1 “Assessment” (pages 44 & 45)

Banerjee, P., & Sharma, V. (2020). An Insight into Psychotherapy: Indian Perspective. SIS Journal of Projective Psychology & Mental Health, 27(1), 54–56.

Blackshaw, E., Evans, C., & Cooper, M. (2018). When life gets in the way: Systematic review of life events, socioeconomic deprivation, and their impact on counselling and psychotherapy with children and adolescents. Counselling & Psychotherapy Research, 18(2), 143–153. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1002/capr.12156

Laureate Education (Producer). (2016). Introduction to psychotherapy with individuals [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2015e). Therapies are helpful: Dodo bird conjecture [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Captari, L. E., Hook, J. N., Hoyt, W., Davis, D. E., McElroy-Heltzel, S. E., & Worthington, E. L., Jr. (2018). Integrating clients’ religion and spirituality within psychotherapy: A comprehensive meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 11, 1938. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1002/jclp.22681

Petiprin, A. (2016). Psychiatric and mental health nursing. Nursing Theory. Retrieve from: http: www/nursing-theory/theory-models/psychiatric-and -mental-health nursing.php

Berman, J. O. M. C. (2019). Socioeconomic status and addiction. Salem Press Encyclopedia of Health.

Klaus Baumann, & Frank-Gerald B. Pajonk. (2014). Religions and Psychotherapies—Special Issue. Religions, 5(3), 871–875. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.3390/rel5030871

 

RESPONSE

Respond to at least two of your colleagues by providing an additional scholarly resource that supports or challenges their position along with a brief explanation of the resource.

I appreciate your feedback on the post. Indeed, psychotherapy is a valuable tool in addressing various mental health issues (Laureate Education Producer, 2016). As you rightly pointed out, cultural competence is a fundamental aspect of providing effective mental health care. Ensuring that therapy is culturally competent not only promotes a positive patient experience but also aligns with the principles of social justice.

The concept of social justice is crucial in creating a society that caters to the needs of all its members, regardless of their cultural background (Moleiro, Freire, Pinto, & Roberto, 2018). It’s heartening to see a focus on diversity and social justice in the transition from a nurse to a PMHNP role. Multicultural competence, encompassing awareness, knowledge, and skills in working with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, is a key strategy in addressing mental health disparities and promoting equality in care (Moleiro, Freire, Pinto, & Roberto, 2018).

Thank you for emphasizing the importance of these principles in mental health care, and I hope they continue to be a core part of your practice as you progress in your role as a PMHNP. It’s through such approaches that we can ensure that psychotherapy and mental health care, in general, are not only effective but also inclusive and respectful of diverse cultures and backgrounds.

References

Laureate Education (Producer). (2016). Introduction to psychotherapy with individuals [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Moleiro, C., Freire, J., Pinto, N., & Roberto, S. (2018). Integrating diversity into therapy processes: The role of individual and cultural diversity competences in promoting equality of care. Counselling & Psychotherapy Research, 18(2), 190–198. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1002/capr.12157.