Brief Psychotherapy with Children, Adolescents, and their Families

Abstract

Brief psychotherapy is not a miniaturized form of long-term psychotherapy; rather, brief psychotherapy has as its goal the resolution of a principal presenting problem that is framed in a solvable way. Individuals or families are seen on an intermittent, as-needed basis. Therapeutic techniques often include solution-focused, narrative, and possibility-oriented strategies along with cognitive behavioral interventions. Brief therapy is a cost-effective and clinically effective treatment for children, adolescents, and their families. Rather than imposing a definite termination, brief therapy practitioners recognize that change is inevitable; an individual or family may return for another course of treatment in the future, reflecting the client’s developmental and existential experiences.