Common aspects of brief psychotherapy - Overview

Abstract

Brief psychotherapy is not an adjunct or a pre- or preparatory phase of long-term psychotherapy. Theoretical as well as empirical work has demonstrated that brief psychotherapy is a psychotherapeutic approach in its own. Many different problems and disorders may be treated with short-term psychotherapeutic methods. Empirical research has demonstrated its effectiveness and its efficacy. This paper gives an overview of common theoretical and technical aspects of brief psychotherapy. Additionally, selection and exclusion criteria and the main working factors of brief therapy are discussed. In the last section some short notes on the state of research of the effectiveness of brief psychotherapy are added. It is concluded that short-term psychotherapy is an important approach to psychotherapy, which is most suitable for patients with less severe problems of various origins (anxiety, depression, grief, stress, interpersonal conflicts etc.) and traumatic and stressful encounters even if they are more severe. It seems that it is less effective for patients with more severe disorders such as those of personality disorders, substance abuse, and psychoses.

Keywords:
Brief psychotherapy, psychotherapy, working-factors, evaluation.