Supportive Therapy Techniques Part II

Abstract

This chapter concludes the section on supportive therapy and describes four additional sets of techniques with clinical examples. Interventions that are intended to reduce and prevent unhelpful anxiety or other emotions are discussed first. These include techniques such as supportive bypassing, encouraging the use of adaptive defenses, and reframing. Next, supportive approaches meant to enhance patient self-awareness are discussed (e.g., the use of “upward explanations”). A third set of interventions focuses on what have been called, for lack of a better term, “parenting strategies.” Examples include containing affect, setting limits, and providing limited advice. Techniques to create and sustain a positive therapeutic alliance are discussed last. Displaying interest and empathy, sharing agendas, jointly agreeing upon treatment contracts, and many other approaches and interventions serve to foster a therapeutic alliance. The alliance is a critical component of all therapies and may be particularly challenging to achieve with lower-functioning patients. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the process of “working through” in supportive therapies.