title: Psychotherapies: an overview.
abstract: The author schematically describes the three predominating themes in the development of the psychotherapies: dynamic, behavioral, and experiential. These themes represent different conceptualizations of the fundamental nature of man and his ills, therapeutic processes or change agents, the basic nature of the physician-patient relationship, and the primary techniques and methods used. Although there appears to be some unifying thread connecting the four different areas within each theme, a comparable bond does not exist across the three themes. The author questions the potential unification of the psychotherapies and poses specific dimensions for further exploration.
mesh_terms: D001326:Autogenic Training; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001527:Behaviorism; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D005086:Existentialism; D005864:Gestalt Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D007171:Implosive Therapy; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011572:Psychoanalysis; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D011937:Reality Therapy; D012064:Relaxation Therapy