Brief Supportive Psychotherapy: A Treatment Manual and Clinical Approach

Supportive psychotherapy is a widely practiced but poorly defined treatment. Dr. Markowitz and his colleagues manualized Brief Supportive Psychotherapy (BSP) as a time-limited control treatment to compare to more active established psychotherapies. BSP has proven to be a robust treatment in multiple randomized controlled treatment trials, keeping pace with brand name treatments in treating patients with difficult disorders like chronic depression. It is an elemental, relatively simple approach for a psychotherapy, yet no psychotherapy is easy to do well. Its affect-focused approach enhances the application of all psychotherapeutic approaches and deserves a place among evidence-based treatments in depression treatment guidelines.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 14 November 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Supportive psychotherapy is a widely practiced therapeutic approach, yet it remains poorly defined, often misunderstood, and unfairly disparaged. In an effort to address these challenges, Dr. Markowitz and his colleagues developed Brief Supportive Psychotherapy (BSP), a time-limited control treatment designed to compare to more active established psychotherapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT). BSP, an emotion-focused, bare-bones treatment rooted in Carl Rogers' Client-Centered Therapy, has since proven itself to be a robust treatment in numerous randomized controlled treatment trials. It has demonstrated its effectiveness in treating patients with challenging disorders like chronic depression, often maintaining pace with brand-name treatments.

For therapists previously trained solely in cognitive and behavioral approaches, incorporating an affect-focused approach into their practice has added a new dimension to their thinking and the lives of their patients. Brief Supportive Psychotherapy: A Treatment Manual and Clinical Approach serves as both an elaboration of the well-tested research treatment manual for BSP and a primer for clinicians. It illustrates how BSP assists patients with mood and anxiety disorders in tolerating, rather than avoiding, their powerful negative emotions. The book delves into the key elements of supportive psychotherapy, highlighting the common factors that contribute to the effectiveness of all evidence-based psychotherapies. These factors include affective arousal, fostering a sense of understanding and validation for the patient; realistic optimism for improvement; the use of therapeutic rituals; clinical poise; and success experiences.

One of the distinguishing features of BSP is its emphasis on maximizing patient autonomy. The therapy allows the patient to take the lead in sessions, and there is no prescribed homework. This approach prioritizes the patient's agency and empowers them to actively participate in their healing journey. While BSP may be considered an elemental and relatively simple psychotherapy, achieving excellence in its application requires considerable skill and expertise.

In conclusion, supportive psychotherapy, including BSP, has demonstrated its effectiveness in treating a wide range of mental health disorders. Its time-limited nature, focus on emotion, and emphasis on patient autonomy make it a valuable treatment option for clinicians working with patients who require support and guidance in managing their emotional well-being. By understanding the key elements of supportive psychotherapy and incorporating an affect-focused approach, therapists can provide their clients with a compassionate and effective treatment that helps them navigate challenging life circumstances and achieve positive outcomes.

Weight: 220g
Dimension: 155 x 235 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197635803