Mental health theories
Submit a paper which compares and contrasts two mental health theories:
You may choose your theories from the textbook or from other sources.
Describe each theory, including some history about the person who developed the theory and the major ideas and applications of the theory.
Describe the ways in which the two theories are similar, and how they differ.
Include a statement of how each theory could be used in your nursing practice. Include specific patient examples if you have them. You may also critique the theory: Is there anything with which you disagree or are there any problems you can identify?
Mental health theories
Have you ever met with a counselor or therapist and thought, “this is not a good fit?” It might have had something to do with the theories they use to inform their practice. Counselors and therapists worldwide receive training about the theoretical underpinnings of mental health. They learn how to use those theories to support their work with clients. Mental health theories strive to explain human development behaviorally, psychologically, and socially. Theories developed 50-100 years ago fall into six broad categories: analytical/developmental (Freud, Jung, Erickson, Kohlberg); behavioral (Watson, Skinner, Pavlov); cognitive (Tolman, Piaget, Chomsky); social (Bandura, Lewin, Festinger); Humanistic (Rogers and Maslow); and personality (Erickson`s psychosocial development theory). They still influence us today.
