ABSTRACT
Recently, there has been a movement away from the traditional approach to psychotherapy (a patient sitting on a couch as the therapist makes interpretations connecting the past to the present) to a more time-limited, goal-directed approach, with a particular emphasis on the present. This movement toward the more efficient delivery of psychotherapy serves several purposes. First, it helps patients recover in a shorter amount of time, which has implications for decreasing the negative impact of psychological distress in a variety of areas, including interpersonal relationships, employment, and personal finance. Second, it decreases the cost of psychotherapy while at the same time potentially increasing the number of patients who receive services. Finally, as researchers and clinicians continue to refine and
improve psychotherapeutic techniques, it reinforces the scientific bases of psychotherapy and enhances credibility.
