In today's world of managed care -- characterized by limited mental
health resources, emphasis on accountability, concerns of third-party
payers, and consumer need -- the demand for mental health professionals
to use briefer therapeutic approaches is on the rise. Fully 84% of all
clinicians are doing some form of planned brief therapy (6-20 sessions
per year per patient).
Yet despite clinical advances and outcome data that demonstrate the
effectiveness of short-term therapy, many therapists -- in fact, 90% of
those whose theoretical orientation is psychodynamic rather than
cognitive-behavioral -- are reluctant to learn briefer interventions,
seeing value only in long-term, depth-oriented work. The second edition
of this Concise Guide is intended to help educate both beginning and
experienced clinicians in the strategies and techniques of
time-attentive models and to foster more positive and optimistic
attitudes toward using these important therapies. - The seven
therapeutic models presented here -- including an entirely new chapter
on time-limited group therapy -- highlight the importance of the
interpersonal perspective.
- The seven models, one per chapter, represent well-established
short-term approaches to clinical issues that therapists commonly
encounter in their clinical practices. These models also have clearly
defined intervention techniques and formulation strategies and can be
used within the 10- to 20-session time frame of most managed care
settings.
- The first part of each chapter dealing with a therapeutic model lists
the various presenting problems the authors deem most suitable for
treatment by that particular approach. The authors discuss the overall
framework of each model, selection criteria, goals, therapeutic tasks
and strategies, empirical support, and relevance for managed care, with
clinical cases to illustrate the application of each model.
The authors include updated chapters on supportive, time-limited, and
interpersonal therapies; time-limited dynamic psychotherapy; short-term
dynamic therapy for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder; brief
dynamic therapy for patients with substance abuse disorders; an entirely
new chapter on time-limited group therapy; and a final chapter on the
reciprocal relationship between pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy.
Meant to complement the more detailed information found in lengthier
psychiatric texts, this Concise Guide (it is designed to fit into a
jacket or lab coat pocket) is a practical and convenient reference for
psychiatrists, psychiatric residents, and medical students working in a
variety of treatment settings, such as inpatient psychiatry units,
outpatient clinics, consultation-liaison services, and private offices.
