Critical Social Inquiry 0276 - What Is Psychotherapy?

The mental health professions offer a range of approaches for the treatment of human suffering but there is often little explanation as to what the various treatments are and how they are thought to work. A central question this class will pursue is on what basis should one choose a psychotherapist and psychotherapy? We will examine what psychotherapy is from a range of perspectives with the intention of developing a moral and ethical framework through which psychotherapeutic practice can be critically understood. We will explore how shifting cultural values, economic changes in health care funding and accessibility, and the modern era's emphasis on efficiency and parsimony among other factors, contribute to the popular understandings about mental health treatment. Prerequisite: Some prior undergraduate background in psychology.

Independent Work Writing and Research Prerequisite: Prior undergraduate background in psychology. In this course, students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week on class readings, writing assignments and other work outside of class time.