Sections
Theory of Supportive Psychotherapy: Introduction | The Psychopathology–Psychotherapy Continuum | Psychoanalytic Theory | Cognitive-Behavioral Theory | Learning Theory | Conclusion | Key Points | References | Suggested Readings
Excerpt
Supportive psychotherapy is a broadly defined
approach with wide applicability that uses direct measures to ameliorate
symptoms and maintain, restore, or improve self-esteem, ego function,
and adaptive skills (Pinsker 1994; Pinsker et al. 1991; Winston et al. 2004). Self-esteem involves
the patient's sense of efficacy, confidence, hope, and
self-regard. Ego functions or structural
functions include relation to reality, object relations,
defenses, regulation of impulses and affects, thinking, and others
(Bellak 1958; Beres 1956; Winston et al. 2004). Adaptive skills are
actions associated with effective functioning. To accomplish these
objectives, treatment involves examination of symptoms, relationships,
everyday functioning, and patterns of emotional responses and behaviors.