The future of psychoanalytic therapy.

Abstract

The author believes that in the years ahead psychoanalysis will move increasingly toward an open-system biosocial perspective incorporating aspects of field theory, communications and information theory, and general systems theory. There are important implications in this for therapy: while long-term psychoanalytically oriented therapy along classical lines will still be needed for some patients, the analyst should make use of some of the newer techniques (including behavior therapy) that aid in amelioration of symptoms. The author also believes that changes are needed in the training of psychoanalysts; integrating psychoanalytic institutes within academic settings would be especially useful because the services of other behavioral scientists would be readily available to aid in the training of analytic candidates.