POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF COGNITIVE SCIENCE TO THE INTEGRATION OF PSYCHOTHERAPY

Clinical cognitive theory has limitations both as an explanation of wh at occurs in cognitive therapy and as a framework for discussing psych otherapy integration. The three articles by Stein and Marcus, Strauman , and Harlow and Cantor challenge some key conceptual and methodologic al assumptions that are basic to this clinical theory, and each points to some needed correctives to its excesses and reductionism. Yet each article also uncritically accepts some other assumptions in ways that reduce its potential contribution to the integration of psychotherapy . Strengths and weaknesses of these articles are discussed in terms of the adequacy of clinical cognitive theory as the overarching framewor k for integrative psychotherapy.