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Biological Basis and Ethical/Legal Considerations of Psychotherapy
Student’s Name
Instructor
University Affiliation
Course
Date
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Biological Basis and Ethical/Legal Considerations of Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy Has a Biological Basis.
Evidence points to a biological basis for psychotherapy or treating mental and emotional
illnesses through talk therapy (Wheeler, 2020). Changes in neural circuits and neurotransmitter
levels are just two examples of how psychotherapy can influence the structure and function of the
brain, as shown by the available scientific evidence. Faan (Chapter 2, 2020) points out that the
prefrontal cortex, which is involved in emotional regulation and decision-making, has been shown
to expand due to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Mood-regulating neurotransmitters like
serotonin and dopamine are also subject to modulation by psychotherapy. One may therefore claim
that psychotherapy has a biological basis and can cause beneficial changes in the brain.
Culture and Psychotherapy
Through establishing beliefs and attitudes concerning mental health, seeking help, and the
importance of emotions, culture might affect one’s perspective on the effectiveness of
psychotherapy treatments. Some societies value family and community supports more than
seeking professional care for mental health concerns. In contrast, others with a stronger emphasis
on individualism may be more likely to seek therapy for personal growth and betterment.
Religion and Psychotherapy
Beliefs and attitudes about mental health, the significance of prayer, and the necessity of
getting professional care can be shaped by one’s religious upbringing, which can affect one’s
perspective on the efficacy of psychotherapy treatments. While some view prayer and other
religious activities as the primary means of resolving mental health difficulties, counselling may
be encouraged by some religious traditions.
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Socioeconomics and Psychotherapy
The value that one places on psychotherapy treatments can be affected by one’s
socioeconomic status because this impacts one’s willingness to seek and use available mental
health resources. One group may view therapy as out of reach because of financial constraints
(those with lower incomes or less comprehensive insurance plans). In contrast, another group with
more financial resources may see therapy as an essential investment in their mental health (because
of its positive effects on productivity and well-being). However, people of different socioeconomic
origins may have different perspectives on therapy due to the societal stigma associated with
mental health.
Differences in Legal Consideration Among the Family, Group, and Individual Therapy
Settings
Individual, family, and group therapy settings each have unique legal and ethical
considerations, as evidenced by Wheeler (2020).
Confidentiality, privacy, and the client’s
informed consent are crucial in individual therapy. When conducting family therapy, the therapist
must consider the interplay of numerous people and any potential conflicts of interest and obtain
informed consent from everyone involved, as reported in Faan (Chapter 2, 2020). The therapist
leading a group therapy is responsible for preventing any unauthorized disclosure of client
information and ensuring everyone there feels comfortable and cared for. Furthermore, there may
be special legal considerations for group treatment, including handling issues of collective liability
and the possibility that group members will impact each other’s behavior or mental health.
Therefore, therapists in every environment must master intricate legal and ethical issues for their
client’s safety and well-being (Faan, Chapter 1, 2020).
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Impacts of the differences on Therapeutic Approaches
The differences in legal and ethical considerations may affect several therapeutic
approaches between group, individual, and family therapy settings. The therapist’s role in group
therapy is threefold: to ensure all participants’ safety, establish ground rules for the group, and
mediate any conflicts that arise, as evidenced in Faan (Chapter 2, 2020). When working with an
individual client, a therapist’s top priorities should be to establish trust, create a secure environment
in which the client feels comfortable opening up, and protect the client’s right to privacy and
confidentiality at all times. The therapist’s job in family therapy is to facilitate honest
communication and appropriate boundaries within the family unit, taking into account the family’s
unique structure, roles, and relationships (Nicholas & Davis, 2020). In delivering successful and
ethical care for their clients, therapists must generally modify their therapeutic approaches to
account for the unique issues and concerns of each therapy setting.
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References
Faan., W. K. P. D. P. M. H. N. P.-B. C. A. P. R. N. (2020). Psychotherapy for the Advanced
Practice Psychiatric Nurse, third edition. Springer Publishing Company. (Chapter 1,
“The Nurse Psychotherapist and a Framework for Practice,” and Chapter 2, “The
Neurophysiology of Trauma and Psychotherapy”) Retrieved From:
The Nurse Psychotherapist and a Framework for Practice | Springer Publishing
This article is considered scholarly because it is a book written by a highly qualified
author and published by a reputable academic publisher, Springer Publishing Company. The
content of the book is based on empirical evidence and research, and the chapters provide in-depth
knowledge on topics related to psychotherapy and nursing practice.
Nichols, M., & Davis, S. D. (2020). The essentials of family therapy (7th ed.). Pearson.
Chapter 2, “Basic Techniques of Family Therapy” (pp. 33õ only). Retrieved From:
0135167795.pdf (pearsonhighered.com)
This article is considered scholarly because it is a chapter from a textbook by
established authors and published by a respected academic publisher.
Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2020). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to
guide for evidence-based practice (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing. Available at:
Psychotherapy for the Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse, Second Edition: A … – Kathleen
Wheeler – Google Books
This article is considered scholarly because it is a book edited by an expert in the field,
published by a reputable academic publisher, and provides a comprehensive guide on evidence-
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based practice for advanced practice psychiatric nurses, with references and specialized
language.
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BIOLOGICAL BASIS AND ETHICAL/LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS OF
PSYCHOTHERAPY
Students Name
Institution
Course
Date
2
BIOLOGICAL BASIS AND ETHICAL/LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS OF
PSYCHOTHERAPY
Psychological treatment is a talk therapy to diagnose and treat mental health concerns. It
gets conducted between a qualified psychotherapist and a patient. Through psychotherapy,
people may learn to recognize and address unhelpful ideas and behaviors and create healthy
thought and behavioral patterns. Interpersonal therapy, humanistic therapy, psychodynamic
therapy, and cognitive therapy get utilized as treatments. The paper intends to evaluate
psychotherapy and discuss the following questions.
An Explanation of whether Psychotherapy has a Biological Basis
Cognitive therapy has always worked as a psychological treatment for mental health
problems. However, evidence suggests that specific components of psychotherapy may have a
biological foundation. For example, there is an affirmation that psychotherapy has a biological
basis and may help control chemicals like oxytocin and cortisol, which are known to control
stress and mood (Fischer & Zilcha-Mano, 2022). The structural function of the brain gets altered
throughout psychotherapy, and studies suggest that these changes explain the therapeutic effects
of psychotherapy. For instance, studies have shown that psychotherapy may aid in growing the
size of the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in memory and emotion control (Zhu et al.,
2019).
Moreover, there is scientific support for studies that shows psychotherapy may change levels of
neurotransmitters known to affect moods, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine
(Wang et al., 2020). Research has shown that psychotherapy may boost these neurotransmitters’
activity, enhancing mood and emotional control. It implies that psychotherapy can directly affect
biological processes, resulting in modifications to mental health.
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Explain how Culture, Religion, and Socioeconomics might Influence OneàPerspective on
the Value of Psychotherapy Treatments
A person’s traditions, beliefs, and socioeconomic status influence the worth of
psychological treatments. Cultural heritage and beliefs influence individuals’ worldviews and
perceptions of the value of psychotherapy (Koc & Kafa,2019). Individualism, collectivism, and
religion are three cultural characteristics that influence how people see the use of mental therapy.
For example, psychotherapy gets seen as a personal growth and development tool in
individualistic traditions. However, it gets viewed as preserving peace within the family or
community in collectivist societies. Their religious beliefs also influence one’s opinion on the
importance of psychotherapy. Psychotherapy usage may be discouraged by certain religious
doctrines but encouraged by others. Thirdly, one’s opinion on the worth of psychotherapy gets
influenced by socioeconomic background. Psychotherapy may be excessively costly or unneeded
for less fortunate individuals, while it may be an essential and wise investment for well-situated
individuals (Lepp¥n et al., 2022).
Describe how Legal and Ethical Considerations for Group and Family Therapy differ from
those for Individual Therapy and Explain how these Differences might Impact your
Therapeutic Approaches for Clients in Group, Individual, and Family Therapy
There are numerous significant ways in which family and group therapy differs from
personal therapy regarding permissible and ethical considerations. As several people are
participating in group and family therapy, the therapist must consider the rights of everyone
receiving care. The therapist must protect confidentiality for every group or family member. It
implies that the therapist cannot disclose information about anyone without consent (Yao, 2022).
The therapist should also be aware of any possible disputes within the group or family. The
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therapist must be able to step in when required to ensure that any disagreements get
appropriately resolved. Professionals in family therapy are required to provide the finest care
available. If they need more knowledge or experience to fulfill the requirements of a specific
client, they should hand over the instance to a therapist who has the capability (Nichols & Davis,
2020). In contrast, individual treatment concentrates on one person’s rights. The therapist does
not need to be concerned with the possibility of conflict or power dynamics in a group or family
situation but must still respect the person’s rights, such as preserving confidentiality (Wheeler,
2020).
The client categories in personal, group, and family treatment significantly influence the
therapists’ therapeutic approaches. The primary strategy of group therapy includes problem
resolution, group engagement, and shared experiences. In a secure and encouraging setting,
group therapy helps patients to express their ideas, sentiments, and experiences. In individual
therapy, the approach is to provide patients with a one-on-one environment to discuss and
resolve concerns with a therapist. It is customized to the requirements of the individual and
enables the client to examine their emotions, ideas, and actions in a personal context. The
approach emphasizes the worth of the therapeutic alliance and each person’s capacity to alter
their life for the better. The therapist listens to them to understand the causes and reasons for the
client’s problems. With this procedure, the client acquires fresh viewpoints, improved coping
mechanisms, and deeper self-awareness. Family issues are the primary focus of family therapy. It
supports good communication and relationships while assisting family members in recognizing,
comprehending, and resolving challenges within the family. Confidentiality, transparency, and
informed consent constitute the cornerstone of all these treatments, which is noteworthy and vital
(Bipeta, 2019).
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The evidence-based sources (Fischer & Zilcha-Mano, 2022; Yao, 2022; Lepp¥n et al.,
2022; Wang et al., 2020; Nichols & Davis, 2020) have gone through a peer-review process and
been approved, edited, and published in respected journals and thus academic. The authors
(Bipeta, 2019; Koc & Kafa, 2019; Wheeler, 2020; Zhu et al., 2019) are affiliated with providing
healthcare and making an important contribution to the psychiatric field.
In conclusion, research has shown that psychotherapy may also have a biological
foundation, despite long being thought of as solely a psychological treatment. Psychotherapy can
help improve cognitive functioning, which can directly impact biological processes. In particular,
psychotherapy may influence hormones, brain chemistry, neurotransmitter activity, and gene
expression, resulting in changes in mental health.
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References
Bipeta, R. (2019). Legal and ethical aspects of mental health care. Indian Journal of
Psychological Medicine, 41(2), 108q2. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijpsym.ijpsym_59_19
Fischer, S., & Zilcha-Mano, S. (2022). Why Does Psychotherapy Work and for Whom?
Hormonal Answers. Biomedicines, 10(6), 1361.
https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10061361
Ko V., & Kafa, G. (2019). Cross-cultural research on psychotherapy: The need for a
change. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 50(1), 100-115.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022118806577
Lepp¥n, H., Kampman, O., Autio, R., Karolaakso, T., N0il T., Rissanen, P., & Pirkola, S.
(2022). Socioeconomic factors and use of psychotherapy in common mental disorders
predisposing to disability pension. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08389-1
Wang, F., Yang, J., Pan, F., Ho, R. C., & Huang, J. H. (2020). Neurotransmitters and
emotions. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 21.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00021/full
Yao, F. (2022). Application Development and Prospect of Family Therapy in China. Journal of
Healthcare Engineering, 2022, pp. 1n https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4606101
Zhu, Y., Gao, H., Tong, L., Li, Z., Wang, L., Zhang, C., Yang, Q., & Yan, B. (2019). Emotion
Regulation of Hippocampus Using Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback in Healthy Human.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, p. 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2019.00242
Wheeler, K. (2020). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: a how-to guide
for evidence-based practice. Springer Publishing Company.
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Nichols, M. P., & Davis, S. D. (2020). Essentials Of Family Therapy. Pearson.

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