Perspectives on rehabilitative and educative-developmental psychotherapy

Two approaches to psychotherapy from two different perspectives are explored: the rehabilitative and the educative-developmental. The goals of treatment, the therapist/patient role relationship and treatment techniques are delineated and illustrated by use of case material. Whether the focus is on self-image, specific learning, social interpersonal deficits, or on a spectrum of maturational arrests, if the focus of treatment is on disturbed functioning with the goals of reducing the impact of the defect than the work is more often rehabilitative than educative-developmental. A wide range of psychotherapeutic activities can be rehabilitative in nature whether the techniques used are exploratory or supportive. If the focus is on self-exploration with the goals of self-understanding leading to conflict resolution then the work is educative-developmental in nature. The significant differences between a therapeutic relationship based on an impairment model and an educative one are delineated. Other differences in approach between these two perspectives are also discussed.