Recent trends in psychotherapy

The author briefly reviews and tentatively categorizes a number of psychotherapeutic techniques that have emerged in recent decades, particularly those which fall under the rubic of the human potential movement. He asks and endeavors to answer four major questions with regard to these therapies: 1) What is the meaning of their rise and popularity? 2) Do they help and, if so, how? 3) Do they present any dangers? 4) What relevance and meaning do they have for more conventional psychotherapists? He also briefly discusses some of the cognitive therapies and the common demoninators in all psychotherapies. The author closes with a plea for a flexible approach to psychotherapy.