Therapies.

by | May 27, 2025 | Analysis

1. Compare and contrast the two therapies.
2. What are some of their strengths and weaknesses?
3. Which therapy would lend itself to Biblical integration?
4. What are some multicultural aspects to consider?
5. End your post with a lingering question for each of these therapies.

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


This question has been answered

God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Comparison and Contrast of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Psychodynamic Therapy

1. Comparison and Contrast

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):

    • Focus: Present-oriented. Focuses on identifying and changing maladaptive thinking patterns (cognitions) and behaviors that contribute to psychological distress.
    • Core Idea: Our thoughts and behaviors are not inherently fixed; they can be learned and unlearned. Dysfunctional thoughts lead to negative emotions and behaviors, creating a cycle.
    • Techniques: Structured, goal-oriented, and active. Employs techniques like cognitive restructuring (identifying and challenging distorted thoughts), behavioral experiments, exposure therapy, relaxation techniques, and homework assignments.
    • Therapist Role: Active, directive, and collaborative. Acts as a coach, guiding the client through specific exercises and strategies.
    • Duration: Often short-term to medium-term (e.g., 12-20 sessions), though can be longer for complex issues.

Comparison and Contrast of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Psychodynamic Therapy

1. Comparison and Contrast

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):

    • Focus: Present-oriented. Focuses on identifying and changing maladaptive thinking patterns (cognitions) and behaviors that contribute to psychological distress.
    • Core Idea: Our thoughts and behaviors are not inherently fixed; they can be learned and unlearned. Dysfunctional thoughts lead to negative emotions and behaviors, creating a cycle.
    • Techniques: Structured, goal-oriented, and active. Employs techniques like cognitive restructuring (identifying and challenging distorted thoughts), behavioral experiments, exposure therapy, relaxation techniques, and homework assignments.
    • Therapist Role: Active, directive, and collaborative. Acts as a coach, guiding the client through specific exercises and strategies.
    • Duration: Often short-term to medium-term (e.g., 12-20 sessions), though can be longer for complex issues.

  • Psychodynamic Therapy:

    • Focus: Past-oriented. Explores how unconscious conflicts, early childhood experiences, and unresolved issues from the past influence current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
    • Core Idea: Psychological symptoms are often manifestations of unconscious drives, conflicts, and unresolved relational patterns originating in early life. Gaining insight into these unconscious processes leads to symptom relief and personal growth.
    • Techniques: Less structured. Employs techniques like free association, dream analysis, interpretation of transference (client’s unconscious redirection of feelings from one person to the therapist), and analysis of resistance.
    • Therapist Role: More passive, interpretive, and observational. Provides a safe space for exploration and offers interpretations to help the client gain insight.
    • Duration: Often long-term (months to years), as gaining deep insight into unconscious processes takes time.

Key Contrasts:

Feature Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Psychodynamic Therapy
Time Orientation Present and Future Past (early experiences, unconscious conflicts)
Goal Symptom reduction, behavioral change Insight into unconscious processes, personality change
Therapist Role Active, directive, collaborative Passive, interpretive, observational
Techniques Structured exercises, homework, coping skills Free association, dream analysis, transference
Duration Shorter-term (weeks to months) Longer-term (months to years)
Focus Thoughts, behaviors, conscious processes Unconscious drives, early relationships

2. Strengths and Weaknesses

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):

  • Strengths:

    • Empirically Supported: Strong evidence base for a wide range of disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD, eating disorders, and chronic pain.
    • Structured and Goal-Oriented: Its clear framework makes it easy to learn, implement, and measure progress.
    • Practical Skills: Teaches concrete coping skills that clients can use independently.
    • Relatively Short-Term: Can provide quicker symptom relief compared to long-term therapies.
    • Good for Crisis Management: Its focus on immediate thought and behavior change can be very useful in acute situations.
    • Patient Empowerment: Encourages clients to become their own therapists by practicing learned skills.

  • Weaknesses:

    • May Not Address Root Causes: Some critics argue it can be too superficial, focusing on symptom reduction without fully addressing underlying unconscious conflicts or developmental issues that might contribute to problems.
    • Less Emphasis on Emotions: Can sometimes de-emphasize the exploration and processing of deep-seated emotions.
    • Requires Client Engagement: Relies heavily on client commitment to homework and active participation; less effective if clients are not motivated.
    • Not for Everyone: Some clients may find its structured nature too rigid or prefer a more exploratory approach.
    • Potential for Symptom Substitution: If root causes aren’t addressed, some argue new symptoms might emerge.

Psychodynamic Therapy:

  • Strengths:

    • Deep and Lasting Change: Aims for fundamental personality change and greater self-understanding, which can lead to long-term shifts in patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior.
    • Addresses Root Causes: Explores the origins of psychological distress, potentially leading to more profound and sustainable relief.
    • Explores Complex Issues: Excellent for addressing pervasive personality issues, recurring relationship patterns, and deep-seated emotional conflicts.
    • Rich Self-Discovery: Can be a highly enriching and transformative process for individuals seeking profound insight.
    • Less Directive: May appeal to clients who prefer a more exploratory, less structured approach.

  • Weaknesses:

    • Long-Term and Costly: Typically requires a significant time commitment (months to years) and can be expensive.
    • Less Empirically Supported (for specific disorders): While evidence for its effectiveness is growing, it generally has a less robust evidence base for specific disorders compared to CBT, particularly for rapid symptom reduction.
    • Lack of Concrete Skills: Does not typically teach explicit coping skills for immediate symptom management.
    • Potential for Transference Issues: The intense therapeutic relationship can sometimes be challenging for clients if not managed skillfully.
    • Less Suitable for Acute Crises: Its long-term, exploratory nature makes it less appropriate for clients needing immediate symptom relief or in acute crisis.
    • Risk of Over-Interpretation: Some critics argue it can lead to speculative interpretations without sufficient evidence.

3. Which Therapy Would Lend Itself to Biblical Integration?

Both therapies can lend themselves to Biblical integration, but in different ways, depending on how “integration” is defined and applied. However, CBT often lends itself more readily and practically to direct Biblical integration in a clinical setting.

  • CBT and Biblical Integration:

    • Cognitive Restructuring: The process of identifying and challenging distorted thoughts (e.g., “I’m a failure,” “No one cares”) directly aligns with Biblical principles of renewing the mind (Romans 12:2), taking every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5), and focusing on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). A therapist can help clients identify thoughts that contradict God’s truth about their identity, worth, and hope.
    • Behavioral Activation: Encouraging engagement in positive, life-giving activities can align with Biblical concepts of living a purposeful life, serving others, and finding joy in creation.
    • Forgiveness and Repentance: CBT techniques can be adapted to help clients process guilt, shame, and unforgiveness by addressing distorted thoughts about these issues and facilitating behavioral steps towards reconciliation or self-forgiveness, which aligns with Biblical concepts.

This question has been answered.

Get Answer