BRIEF PSYCHOTHERAPY - THE ROLE OF COMMON AND SPECIFIC FACTORS

This article discusses some of the important recent developments in ps ychotherapy. One such development is the increased recognition and uti lization of brief psychotherapy, especially in the United States where time limits for psychotherapy are being set by health maintenance and insurance organizations. Along with the increased demand for brief ps ychotherapy have been apparent the proliferation of the psychotherapie s as well as the popularity of eclectic and integrative approaches. Th e present article emphasizes an eclectic orientation as allowing the g reatest flexibility in meeting current demands. In this approach use i s made of the factors deemed to be common to most forms of therapy as well as specific factors derived from various schools. Such procedures allow the therapist to make therapy as effective and efficient as pos sible. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.