Therapist rotation--a new element in the outpatient treatment of alcoholism

For nine years, the so-called "therapist rotation" has been a central part of OLITA, the Outpatient Longterm Intensive Therapy for Alcoholics. Thus far, the participation of several equally responsible therapists in the treatment of a patient has rarely been seen as a specific therapeutic approach. The present article analyzes the therapist rotation from a theoretical and clinical perspective. Articles concerned with the therapeutic alliance in the treatment of substance use disorders are reviewed. Furthermore, the literature on multiple psychotherapy, which may be seen as the precedent of the therapist rotation is surveyed. Based on the efficacy of multiple psychotherapy and the importance of the therapeutic alliance in the treatment of substance use disorders, the present work discusses the therapist rotation as an essential factor for the success of OLITA. It considers both potential advantages and disadvantages for patients and therapists and tries to identify conditions under which this approach appears to promote therapeutic interactions. Finally, the implementation of therapist rotation into OLITA is described, including the theoretical background of the program itself and the treatment procedure. New areas of application for the therapist rotation are discussed.