On limited-time group psychotherapy: I. Setting, admission, and therapeutic ideology

Time-Limited Group Therapy

This article is a comparative review of conceptually planned short-term group treatment models. Comparisons are made regarding structure (selection, composition, pregroup orientation), time (duration, session frequency and length, group development), and therapeutic characteristics (focal themes, interventions, therapeutic factors). These dimensions were selected for analysis because of their relationship to unique issues that are raised when therapy is time-limited and occurs in a group. Implications for the clinician and researcher are conceptualized across the broad dimensions of structure, time. and therapeutic characteristics.

Clinical considerations in the prescription of group, brief, long-term, and couples psychotherapy

Differential clinical considerations for treatment prescription as an aspect of outpatient evaluation for psychotherapy is presented in overview. The indications and contraindications presented for each of the treatment modalities of group therapy, brief therapy, long-term therapy and couples therapy are based on psychotherapy evaluation, selection criteria and outcome research to date. The information and fund of knowledge of the psychiatrist about appropriate treatment prescription matched to the patient, his problems, and his motivation to work psychotherapeutically is an essential aspect of the initial evaluation.