WHEN COMPLEMENTARITY IS UNCOMPLIMENTARY AND OTHER REACTIONS TO TRACEY(1993)

T. J. Tracey's (1993) 3-stage model of psychotherapy builds on applied psychology's 40-year fascination with interpersonal personality theor y (H. S. Sullivan, 1953). To further the debate on the topic. this art icle questions some of Tracey's underlying assumptions concerning (a) the nature of therapy and of clients who seek professional help and (b ) the value of negative complementarity at any point in treatment. To promote research on the model. the article points out some conceptual and methodological problems in past research and suggests consideratio n of the use of qualitative methods to isolate clinically meaningful i nterpersonal change episodes.