THE FOCUS OF THERAPIST INTERVENTIONS IN COGNITIVE THERAPY FOR DEPRESSION

The goal of this study was to provide a detailed analysis of the focus of therapist interventions in cognitive therapy for depression. Rathe r than measuring the techniques or specific procedures used by therapi sts, this study aimed at describing the aspects of clients' functionin g targeted by the interventions. A transtheoretical coding system was used to classify, the focus of therapists interventions in therapy ses sions from the Cognitive-Pharmacotherapy Project (Hollon et al., 1992) . Consistent with the cognitive therapy model, the results indicated t hat therapists focused primarily on producing cognitive changes. More emphasis was also placed on intrapersonal issues than on interpersonal issues. When therapists did address interpersonal issues, they focuse d move on the impact that others were having on clients' functioning t han on the potential contribution that clients brought to their interp ersonal difficulties. Finally, when addressing persons involved in cli ents' lives, therapists focused mostly on the clients' mates and other s in general rather than on their parents or the therapists themselves .