Introduction to Psychotherapy with Adults in Later Life

Abstract

Psychotherapy is an evidence-based treatment for adults in later life with a wide variety of conditions. Simply defined, psychotherapy is the treatment of a mental disorder by psychological rather than medical means. Initial skepticism regarding the use of psychotherapy in older adults rapidly gave way as the quality of psychotherapeutic intervention improved and practitioners better understood and refined themes related to aging. From the 1980s onward, the evidence base for psychotherapy in older adults has continued to grow. Today, theory and evidence show that psychotherapy is indeed an effective treatment for a variety of conditions in older adults. In this chapter, we will review the history of psychotherapy in older adults, provide an overview of the recent evidence supporting its use, outline special issues in conducting psychotherapy with older adults, and introduce the remaining chapters of the book.