Healthy modes in psychotherapy are ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving that promote well-being and positive functioning. Different types of psychotherapy may have different approaches to identifying and cultivating healthy modes, but they generally share some common features.
Through different lenses
Here are some examples of how three types of psychotherapy – transactional analysis,
cognitive behavior therapy, and schema therapy – conceptualize healthy modes:
● Transactional analysis (TA) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on
the analysis of social transactions and communication patterns between
people. TA identifies three ego states: parent, adult, and child. Each
ego state has its own way of perceiving and responding to the world.
Healthy modes in TA are those that involve the adult ego state, which is
rational, objective, and problem-solving. The adult ego state can also
integrate the positive aspects of the parent and child ego states, such
as nurturing, caring, spontaneity, and creativity.
● Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that aims
to change dysfunctional thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that cause
or maintain psychological problems. CBT identifies cognitive distortions,
such as overgeneralization, catastrophizing, or personalization, that
lead to negative emotions and maladaptive behaviors. Healthy modes in
CBT are those that involve realistic, balanced, and flexible thinking.
CBT helps clients to challenge and modify their cognitive distortions,
and to develop coping skills and strategies to deal with stressful
situations.
● Schema therapy is a form of psychotherapy that integrates elements of
CBT, psychodynamic therapy, and attachment theory. Schema therapy
identifies schemas, which are enduring patterns of beliefs and
expectations that develop from early life experiences. Schemas can be
adaptive or maladaptive, depending on how they affect one’s emotions,
relationships, and self-image. Healthy modes in schema therapy are
those that involve the healthy adult mode, which is similar to the adult
ego state in TA or the realistic thinking in CBT. The healthy adult mode
can also activate the happy child mode, which is similar to the positive
aspects of the child ego state in TA or the positive emotions in CBT.
