counseling. Corey states that, ?….intrapsychic analysis may be in direct conflict with some client?s
social framework and environmental perspective.? (Corey, 1996 p.128).
Gestalt, and Holistic therapies both have qualities/characteristics that fit well within the
college counseling arena. Gestalt techniques such as ?role play/reversal, etc.? would be particularly
good for group sessions. And I think that bringing the health of the physical body and spirit into play
is an essential aspect to overall health and well-being as emphasized by Holistic practitioners. I
would choose an integrative/eclectic approach combining particular aspects of all the previously
discussed therapy/counseling theories depending on the individual case before me.
In review, although brief therapy/counseling is by no means a panacea for all the presenting
problems in the world of mental health, it is in fact a great therapeutic tool for the majority of the
more normal developmental life issues or problems that present themselves in the lives of the
average population. Severe addictions, and psychoses may require long-term interventions and the
use of psychoactive drug therapies. Although its present wide spread use and acceptance is a rather
recent phenomenon, the concept of brief therapy is well rooted in historical foundation. From the
early formative days of psychoanalysis Freud was looking for a quick cure for neurosis and did not
intend on the long drawn-out process that psychoanalysis eventually became. I think he would have
liked the brief psychodynamic therapies of today. The research shows that there is no significant
difference in outcome between short and long-term approaches, but short-term is much more
efficient when used with appropriate clients. In effect, even the majority of long-term therapy
approaches are short (by default, not by design), when you consider the actual number of sessions
the average patient attends.
In conclusion, with the pressures of an ever increasingly fast paced society such as ours, the
need for an effective, efficient, and accessible therapy/counseling approach is obvious. Short-term
or brief counseling/therapy is that approach. Brief therapies have been adapted to most of the major
therapy/counseling theories so there should be an approach that suits just about every one. It seems
inhumane to treat people for long periods of time at huge expense if they can be effectively and
efficiently be helped with short-term approaches. Classic Psychoanalysis, among other long-term
approaches, need to be more honest with themselves about who is really being served in the majority
of time-unlimited interventions. Old habits and attitudes often die hard, and this is especially true
when they are linked to individuals professional identities and bank accounts. When long-term
intervention are truly needed, it?s great to know we have them, but in the face of the evidence,
professionals should not make, or maintain, generalized questionable claims about the efficacy and
merits of open-ended therapeutic practices at the expense of the best interests of their clients.
REFERENCES
Butcher, J. N., & Koss, M. P. (1978). Research on brief and crisis oriented psychotherapies. In S.
L. Garfield & A. E.Bergin (Eds.), (2nd ed., pp. 725-768). Handbook of psychotherapy and
behavior change. New York: Wiley
Corey, G. (1996). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy. Brooks/Cole Publishing.
Gage, L. A., & Gyorky, Z. K. (1990). Identifying appropriate clients for time-limited counseling.
Journal of College Student Development, 31, 476-477.
Gallagher, R. P. (1991). National survey of counseling center directors. University of Pittsburgh,
University Counseling and Student Development Center, 1-25.
Garfield, S. L. (1989). The practice of brief psychotherapy. New York: Pergamon.
Garfield, S. L., & Kurtz, E. (1975). Clinical psychologists: A survey of selected attitudes and views.
Clinical Psychologist, 28, 4-7.
Gurman, A. S., & Kniskern, D. P. Research on marital and family therapy: Progress, perspective and
prospect. In S. L. Garfield and A. E. Bergin (Eds.), Handbook of psychotherapy and behavior
change: An empirical analysis (2nd ed.). New York: Wiley, 1978.
Nugent, F. A. An Introduction to the Profession of Counseling (2nd ed.). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall,
5, pp. 96-98, 16, pp. 356-358.
Saposnek, D. T. Short-Term Psychotherapy. In Personality And Behavioral Disorders (2nd ed.).
New York: John Wiley, 33, pp. 1031-1068
Small, L. The briefer psychotherapies. (Rev. ed). New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1, pp.5.
Stone, G. L., & Archer, J., Jr. (1990). College and university counseling centers in the 1990s:
Challenges and limits. The Counseling Psychologist, 18, 539-607.
Wells, R. A. Planned Short-Term Treatment. New York: The Free Press, 1, pp. 1-20.
Bibliography
REFERENCES
Butcher, J. N., & Koss, M. P. (1978). Research on brief and crisis oriented psychotherapies. In S.
L. Garfield & A. E.Bergin (Eds.), (2nd ed., pp. 725-768). Handbook of psychotherapy and
behavior change. New York: Wiley
Corey, G. (1996). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy. Brooks/Cole Publishing.
Gage, L. A., & Gyorky, Z. K. (1990). Identifying appropriate clients for time-limited counseling.
Journal of College Student Development, 31, 476-477.
Gallagher, R. P. (1991). National survey of counseling center directors. University of Pittsburgh,
University Counseling and Student Development Center, 1-25.
Garfield, S. L. (1989). The practice of brief psychotherapy. New York: Pergamon.
Garfield, S. L., & Kurtz, E. (1975). Clinical psychologists: A survey of selected attitudes and views.
Clinical Psychologist, 28, 4-7.
Gurman, A. S., & Kniskern, D. P. Research on marital and family therapy: Progress, perspective and
prospect. In S. L. Garfield and A. E. Bergin (Eds.), Handbook of psychotherapy and behavior
change: An empirical analysis (2nd ed.). New York: Wiley, 1978.
Nugent, F. A. An Introduction to the Profession of Counseling (2nd ed.). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall,
5, pp. 96-98, 16, pp. 356-358.
Saposnek, D. T. Short-Term Psychotherapy. In Personality And Behavioral Disorders (2nd ed.).
New York: John Wiley, 33, pp. 1031-1068
Small, L. The briefer psychotherapies. (Rev. ed). New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1, pp.5.
Stone, G. L., & Archer, J., Jr. (1990). College and university counseling centers in the 1990s:
Challenges and limits. The Counseling Psychologist, 18, 539-607.
Wells, R. A. Planned Short-Term Treatment. New York: The Free Press, 1, pp. 1-20.