title: Programmed writing and therapy with symbiotically enmeshed patients.
abstract: This paper illustrates how programmed writing lessons to be completed as homework assignments can be used in conjunction with traditional verbal psychotherapy. Each patient was involved in a symbolically enmeshed relationship. Special benefits for patients from the combination of programmed writing lessong with traditional psychotherapy were: (1) increased couple communication; (2) possibly more rapid change; (3) possibly shorter-term therapy; (4) increased forgotten trauma discovery; (5) and increased explicit and specific instructions. Patients were informed from the outset that the use of programmed writing lessons would or might: (1) help the therapist get a better idea of what was going on in regard to the development, values, rules, etc. of their symbiotic relationships; (2) decrease the time spent in therapy, and (3) encourage self-realization through self-directed assignments between sessions. For psychotherapists there are advantages of: (1) putting the responsibility for change on the shoulders of patients rather than on themselves; (2) using programs of theoretical and therapeutic approaches that may not be well known to the therapist; (3) reducing the frequency of sessions and administering written homework assignments when the therapist is on vacation; and (4) increasing the number of patients that can be seen for unit of therapist's time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education, University of Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: L'Abate
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017004:Codependency, Psychological; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007207:Individuation; D008297:Male; D008388:Marital Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012649:Self Concept; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D014956:Writing