Interpretive and supportive psychotherapies

In this book, the authors offer a framework for making short-term psychodynamic therapy easier, quicker, and more effective. Short-term dynamic therapies differ widely in objectives and techniques. An approach may fall anywhere from interpretive to supportive. Interpretive therapies emphasize insight into repetitive conflicts and traumas underlying a patient's problems. Supportive therapies emphasize improving the patient's immediate adaptation to his or her environment and are characterized by praise, guidance, structured problem solving, and therapist disclosure. Both forms are effective, but neither is right for every patient. /// As an aid to optimal matching, the authors offer a framework for differentiating among many forms of short-term psychodynamic therapy that is based on where on the interpretive-supportive continuum certain key features lie. They show how 2 patient characteristics--quality of object relations and psychological mindedness--are relevant to success in each form of therapy. The inclusion of treatment manuals and ample clinical illustrations highlight the practical relevance of this essential guide. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2004 APA, all rights reserved).