Psychotherapy for The Advanced Practice Psychiatric nurse Essay
Many studies have found that psychotherapy is as effective as psychopharmacology in terms of influencing changes in behaviors, symptoms of anxiety, and changes in mental state. Changes influenced by psychopharmacology can be explained by the biological basis of treatments. But how does psychotherapy achieve these changes? Does psychotherapy share common neuronal pathways with psychopharmacology? Psychotherapy for The Advanced Practice Psychiatric nurse Essay
Biological Basis and Ethical/ Legal Considerations in Psychotherapy
Physiotherapy is one of the key non-pharmacological strategies that healthcare professionals have successfully used in managing patients with mental health and psychiatric conditions. One of the key concepts that have helped in understanding the biological basis of psychotherapy is neuroplasticity, which arises from the development of new neural connections throughout an individual’s life. For instance, when an individual is exposed to a psychotherapy approach such as cognitive behavioral therapy, the intervention modifies the neural circuits resulting in managing stress and anxiety disorders (González-Alemañy et al., 2023). Secondly, exposure to psychotherapy treatment among these patient populations has been associated with neurotransmitter regulation.
The psychotherapy approach affects the neurotransmitter concentration in the brain, resulting in improved brain function. In this case, exposing patients to specific psychotherapeutic procedures enhances the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, which can improve the mood of an individual and result in stress and depression reduction (Yuan et al., 2022). Lastly, in stress response, there is a reduction in the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which occurs when the individual is exposed to therapeutic approaches and techniques meant to address the underlying stressors (Poli et al., 2022). Therefore, the perceived stress management results in enhanced coping mechanisms and lowers cortisol levels, positively affecting the underlying conditions. Psychotherapy for The Advanced Practice Psychiatric nurse Essay
Legal and Ethical Considerations in Therapy Settings
In therapy settings, the legal and ethical considerations guide the approaches and mechanisms that nurses, other healthcare professionals, and stakeholders should apply in implementing these approaches and enhancing the overall health and wellbeing of the patient. These principles revolve around the provision of care using privacy, confidentiality, informed consent, and beneficence as ethical boundaries that guide the level of care that should be offered to patients and families. When providing individual therapy, the legal and ethical considerations surrounding this care approach revolve around maintaining informed consent and confidentiality and establishing clear goals and boundaries of care. The therapist must protect the client’s privacy and provide adequate information on their roles and responsibilities for addressing these needs and strategies to attain the best healthcare goals (Goldenberg et al., 2017). The nurse practitioner must implement strategies and mechanisms for enhancing healthcare outcomes by stimulating balanced roles and responsibilities within the healthcare environment. Psychotherapy for The Advanced Practice Psychiatric nurse Essay
In family therapy, the nurse practitioner introduces complex needs by discussing privacy and confidentiality in managing these complex needs associated with the underlying needs and strategies. The therapist must navigate the confidentiality of individuals while addressing the family as a whole. Gaining informed consent becomes more complicated as all family members must understand the therapy process and agree on the terms and conditions for care (Foster et al., 2020). Ethical considerations associated with these conditions include managing conflicting interests and neutrality. In this approach, the therapist must ensure shared decision-making strategies enhance the best quality of care and achieve the desired outcomes.
Group therapy sessions should involve unique challenges in managing privacy and confidentiality since the group members may have diverse opinions and ideas. The nurse practitioner providing these sessions must ensure that the group member’s opinions and interests are adequately managed. In addition, the provider must ensure shared interests and decision-making in the group and ensure all stakeholders manage the underlying issues and needs. Additionally, the therapist must create a safe and respectful environment that allows every group member to benefit from the session (Foster et al., 2020). The environment must favor all group members and create a supportive network that facilitates healing. Psychotherapy for The Advanced Practice Psychiatric nurse Essay
Psychotherapy is used with individuals as well as in groups or families. The idea of discussing confidential information with a patient in front of an audience is probably quite foreign to you. However, in group and family therapy, this is precisely what the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner does. In your role, learning how to provide this type of therapy within the limits of confidentiality is essential.
For this Discussion, you will consider whether psychotherapy also has a biological basis and analyze the ways in which legal and ethical considerations differ in the individual, family, and group therapy settings.
RESOURCES
Required Readings
- Goldenberg, I., Stanton, M., & Goldenberg, H. (2017). Family therapy: An overview (9th) Cengage Learning.
- Chapter 1, “Adopting a Family Relationship Framework”
- Chapter 6, “Professional Issues and Ethical Practice”
- Petiprin, A. (2016). Psychiatric and mental health nursingLinks to an external site..Nursing Theory. https://www.nursing-theory.org/theories-and-models/psychiatric-and-mental-health-nursing.php
- Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2020). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice(3rd ed.). Springer Publishing.
- Chapter 1, “The Nurse Psychotherapist and a Framework for Practice”
- Chapter 2, “The Neurophysiology of Trauma and Psychotherapy”
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources. Psychotherapy for The Advanced Practice Psychiatric nurse Essay
WEEKLY RESOURCES
To prepare:
- Review this week’s Learning Resources, reflecting on foundational concepts of psychotherapy, biological and social impacts on psychotherapy, and legal and ethical issues across the modalities (individual, family, and group).
- Search the Walden Library databases for scholarly, peer-reviewed articles that inform and support your academic perspective on these topics. Psychotherapy for The Advanced Practice Psychiatric nurse Essay
Post an explanation of whether psychotherapy has a biological basis. Explain how culture, religion, and socioeconomics might influence one’s perspective on the value of psychotherapy treatments. 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. Support your rationale with at least three peer-reviewed, evidence-based sources and explain why each of your supporting sources is considered scholarly. Attach the PDFs of your sources. Psychotherapy for The Advanced Practice Psychiatric nurse Essay
