Psychotherapy

Abstract

Psychotherapy can be defined as the attempt to reframe consequences of maladaptive behaviour that have caused suffering in self or others by scientifically evaluated psychological interventions. The response to psychotherapy does not solely rely on the specific technique. Instead, it is the quality of the patient–client relationship that determines the outcome of psychotherapeutic interventions. In spite of the relevance of early experiences with caregivers and significant others for well-being later in life, few psychotherapeutic ‘schools’ explicitly refer to evolutionary theory. However, evolutionary thinking in psychotherapy has a lot to offer, beyond issues pertaining to attachment theory. The concept of self-deception can explain phenomena related to repression and how some therapeutic interventions work. The ability to mentalize is deeply rooted in our biology and is actively used in psychotherapy. In summary, integrative approaches to psychotherapy are much more in line with human evolutionary biology and neuroscience than puristic psychoanalysis or behaviourism.