Strategic interventions with involuntary patients.

Abstract

For successful treatment of involuntary patients who resist change, therapists from all schools of thought use numerous interventions. A variety of interventions, from the general strategic therapy approach to tactics for dealing with specific behavioral symptoms, are described. Strong emphasis in applying interventions is placed on the therapist's controlling the therapeutic relationship and establishing the patient's responsibility for his behaviors. Guidelines are also given for the effective use of interventions and the precautions in applying them.