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Dr. Roland Moses, Ed.D., ABPP Psychologist, West Los Angeles
Treatments
Dr. Roland Moses, Ed.D., ABPP - Psychologist Los Angeles 
(Addiction Disorders: Drug, Alcohol, Substance Abuse. Career Disorders: Occupational or Educational Difficulties. Mood Disorders: Anxiety, Depression, Panic, Stress. Personality Disorders: Relationship and Emotional Dysfunction. Relationship Disorders: Couples, Marital, Family.)

INTRODUCTION  
The following summaries are presented as general guides to understanding the treatment approaches I use and where these different schools of thought fit into the current field of psychotherapy.

Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies:
There are many variations in cognitive and behavioral techniques  but the basic underlying principle is the systematic changing of dysfunctional thought (cognition) and /or self-defeating action (behavior) through education, homework assignments, etc.

Such means of controlling behavior and thought date back to several philosophical schools in ancient Greece as well as the mind altering meditative and hypnotic techniques of most of the world’s religions. By the late 19th century the standard talk therapy administered by neurologists and psychiatrists was cognitive and behaviorally focused. It was in this atmosphere that Freud introduced the psychoanalytic approach. (see below "Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapies")

Unlike the psychodynamic and psychoanalytic approaches, the cognitive behavioral therapies (sometimes referred to as C-B psychotherapies or CBT) do not focus on examining the past origins of the dysfunction or on how unconscious forces may influence the symptom. Neither do they examine the patient-therapist relationship as the others do in order to develop self-awareness.

Depending on the nature of the presenting problem and the psychological makeup of each individual, the cognitive behavioral approaches can either be the primary focus of the psychotherapy or they can be integrated with other methods when required.

Counseling Psychology Methods:
Counseling has traditionally been the stepchild of therapeutic psychology. It has 
often struggled to define itself as separate from clinical psychology. The enormous expansion of all applied psychology during and after World War II, benefited counseling greatly. It’s contributions to educational and vocational guidance were invaluable to an expanding military and post-war workforce. In schools and workplaces today it provides assistance to people navigating normal educational, vocational and personal transitions.

In contrast to clinical psychology, counseling usually works with life stage changes that most of us experience.The techniques used are an amalgam of educational, cognitive-behavioral (instruction, home assignments, etc,),  and psychodynamic (objective exploration and reflection in a supportive, nonjudgmental setting, etc.) Many of the current popular psychology guidance regimens ( e.g. coaching) rely on counseling methods.

Because it has much the same structure as the general education of children, counseling can be an even more powerful tool than the reflective therapies. For this reason any use of directive methods needs to be carefully based on assessing what underlying mental dysfunctions may exist that might harmfully distort the process.

Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapies:
Psychodynamic and psychoanalytic approaches are based on understanding the interplay between our conscious and unconscious thoughts. Sigmund Freud is credited with developing a process whereby unconscious forces could be examined and the conflict between these and our conscious mind resolved.

Freud was not the first to discover unconscious processes that can drive our destiny. He often cites works of literature and philosophy, some dating back to ancient Greece to illustrate the insights these authors had into our hidden motives.        

Psychodynamic is a more general term for the dozens of therapeutic schools that have evolved out of Freud’s original model. Psychoanalysis is still practiced in modified versions for those few disorders that require intense examination of the person’s inner conflicts and interpersonal relations. Sessions are usually 2 or more times per week.

Psychodynamic methods use the basic principles of psychoanalysis such as examining unconscious factors and the patient-therapist relationship but in a more interactive context. There is more emphasis on coping with current dysfunction, exploring past development mainly to identify recurrent patterns.

Most forms of individual, couples and family therapies today are based on the psychodynamic model. The variations can be confusing to prospective patients.

Some research has shown that these differences are less important to success than the establishing of a positive working relationship between therapist and patient. Research also seems to confirm that, as therapists become more experienced, they begin to develop a similar approach in practice despite their differences in theoretical orientation.


The following links are provided as references to some of the more conventional definitions of mental health terms, as well as descriptions of symptoms and basic treatment approaches.

American Psychiatric  Association (APA) 

American Psychological Association (APA)

Association For Psychological Science (APS)

Guide To Psychology

Harvard Medical School

Medline Plus/ U.S. National Library of Science

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

National Institute of Mental Health

PsychCentral

SHARE! The Self-Help and Recovery Exchange

Wikipedia-Mental Disorders

Wikipedia-Psychological Schools

Wikipedia-Psychotherapy

Zur Institute- Standard of Care


Diplomate in Clinical Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) 
 Former Professor and Training Supervisor, Columbia University

 California Licensed Psychologist- # 17592
New York Licensed Psychologist- # 003730

Dr. Roland Moses, Ed.D.,ABPP
Licensed Psychologist
10305 Almayo Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Tel: (424) 249-3384 
Email: 
rolandgmoses@msn.com
Evenings And Saturday Appointments Available





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© 2013 Dr. Roland Moses, Ed.D., ABPP -  Psychologist in West Los Angeles - 10305 Almayo Avenue, CA 90064
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