title: Teaching focus in psychotherapy: a training essential.
abstract: Practical application of psychodynamic therapy technique requires that the therapist focus the treatment. The authors review the current evidence about focus in psychotherapy, which suggests that it has a beneficial impact on outcome and patient satisfaction. The core psychodynamic problem is proposed as a valuable conceptual model for providing focus for patient, psychotherapist, and supervisor. The authors narrate a case history from the perspective of both the psychotherapist and the supervisor to demonstrate the opportunities and challenges in using this concept. Finally, the authors suggest that a focus on focus is desirable in residency psychotherapy training programs, and they make suggestions for educational methods that enhance resident training in this area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA. summersr@mail.med.upenn
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.forename: Donald N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Tavakoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods