Rotation of therapists. A new element of the outpatient treatment of alcoholics

For seven years, the so-called "rotation of therapists", has been a central part of OLITA, the outpatient longterm intensive therapy for alcoholics. T hus far the participation of several equally responsible therapists in the treatment of a patient has rarely been seen as a defined therapeutic approa ch. The present work discusses whether the "rotation of therapists" has any essential influence on the success of OLITA. It considers both, potential advantages and disadvantages for patients and therapists and tries to ident ify conditions under which this approach appears to promote therapeutic int eractions. Following an overview of the present knowledge regarding the the rapeutic interaction in addiction therapy, a method is described which may be seen as the precedent of the "rotation of therapists",the multiple psych otherapy. Finally, the practical procedure in OLITA is outlined as well as its theoretical background. New areas of application for the "rotation of t herapists" are discussed.