THE COST OF PSYCHOTHERAPY

This article examines the relationship between psychotherapy funding p olicies and concepts of mental health. Three levels of mental health-n ecessity, improvement, and potentiality-are proposed. Necessity repres ents basic adaptation, the current dominant level illustrated by brief psychotherapy funded through managed mental health care. Improvement is the phase beyond necessity aimed at prevention and heightened quali ty of life, and potentiality is the ideal. The latter two now receive limited funding and emphasis. At question are both economic and social policies that endorse a narrow rather than a broad conception of ment al health.