Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142:675-679
Copyright © 1985 by American Psychiatric Association
The psychodynamics of prescribing in behavior therapy
RM Goisman
The assignment of therapeutic tasks derived from learning theory to the
patient by the therapist constitutes behavioral prescribing. After
discussing some issues involved in comparing schools of psychotherapy and
briefly examining some behavioral aspects of the psychotherapist- patient
relationship, the author considers psychodynamic implications of a number
of behavioral prescriptions, including homework, relaxation training,
systematic desensitization, flooding, assertiveness training, sexual
therapy, and self-control procedures. The author then examines possible
meanings of behaviorally prescribed change itself, briefly discusses
countertransference in behavior therapy, and advocates a multitheoretical
perspective for psychotherapists.
