Short-term-treatment in cognitive-behavior therapy

Abstract

The duration of short-term behavior therapy is one to fifteen sessions. First, key reasons for further reduction of cognitive-behavioral interventions are discussed. The following indications and intervention methods in short-term behavior therapy are addressed: posttraumatic crisis intervention; short-term therapy during life-crises; patient education and counseling; educational counseling; counseling and therapy for relatives of mentally disturbed, chronically ill and disabled people; short-term therapy for couples and marriage counseling. Finally a number of important practical aspects are discussed which differentiate short-term from long-term behavior therapy.

Keywords:
Short-term psychotherapy, behavior therapy, short-term behavior therapy, patient education, crisis intervention, counseling.