Copsychotherapy of the Individual Patient: Indications and Operative Factors

Abstract

The study analyzes the treatment by copsychotherapy of 56 individual patients carried out by a male-female therapist pair. The therapeutic contributions of the female cotherapist are scored (from evidence in the process notes) in terms of thirteen factors, and are listed in order of importance. Her contributions are greatest in the treatment of borderline psychotic personality disorders.

Supervising the advanced trainee: A multiple therapy training model.

“…Numerous articles have addressed the use of multiple therapy (or co-therapy) as a method of treatment, apart from training considerations. Clinicians have written about the application of this method with individual patients (Hoffman, Kohener & Shapira, 1987; Haget & Serber, 1970; Solomon & Morrison, 1972; Treppa, 1971; Treppa & Nun-nelly, 1974; Watterson & Collinson, 1976; Win-berg & Sheverbush, 1980), with couples and families (Framo, 1965; Hoffman & Gafni, 1984; Hoffman & Laub, 1986; Laub & Hoffman, 1987), and with therapy groups (Benjamin, 1972; Bowers & Gauron, 1981; Davis & Lohr, 1971; Lundin & Aronov, 1952), addressing advantages and disadvantages, co-therapist matching and appropriate selection of patients.…”

Two on one: Dialectical psychotherapy.

“…Watterson & Collinson (1976), in surveying the literature, cited several reasons why cotherapy is more effective than one-to-one therapy with certain individuals. Included in their list were: 1) it allowed the patient to relate and develop transference toward persons of both sexes (in the case of male and female cotherapists); 2) the patient can express feelings of love and hate openly to each therapist, respectively, without ambivalence; 3) the combined knowledge and experience of two therapists is greater than that of one; 4) two therapists can give alternating and greater empathic support than one therapist alone; and 5) extreme dependency is less likely to develop.…”