IN DEFENSE OF LONG-TERM TREATMENT - ON THE VANISHING HOLDING ENVIRONMENT

There are compelling similarities in the caregiving functions of good clinicians and good paren's. Both clinicians and parents function best in a supportive environment. Yet many clinicians do not feel supporte d. They are under relentless pressure to find ever-briefer forms of tr eatment for all individuals, regardless of the individual's symptoms o r circumstances. This pressure is especially distressing for the clini cal social worker who, by tradition, has provided therapeutic services for the most-troubled individuals. This article is intended as a supp ortive gesture for the clinician who is struggling with questions abou t long-term treatment. Health care trends and contraindications for sh ort-term therapy are addressed. A clinical case is presented.