Recent research highlights the centrality of the therapeutic alliance, not only to positive outcomes across the psychotherapies but in all psychiatric practice. This understanding, along with a cultural shift toward psychological-mindedness, suggests that we teach relational as well as intellectual skills and implement a broader role for psychotherapy training. A subsequent article will address the question of whether and how such skills can be developed.

Some preliminary suggestions for affective or "right-brain" training, including supervision for psychotherapy with patients with developmental trauma and Balint-style groups are made.

No abstract