Brief dynamic psychotherapy with older adults

In this article, we present an outline of brief dynamic psychotherapy guidi ng our case formulation, and contrast the perspective of cyclical maladapti ve patterns with the traditional conception of a normative model of therape utic change in old age. A case illustration of a 68-year-old married woman is introduced to demonstrate how presenting complaints are translated into cyclical maladaptive patterns, a formulation used as a heuristic to help th e therapist generate. recognize. and organize relevant psychotherapeutic in formation. The goal of therapy is to help the client change her maladaptive interpersonal patterns, focusing on new experiences and new understandings that emanate from the therapeutic relationship. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons , Inc.