Toward a general concept of the therapeutic process

Using clinical psychoanalytic theory as a unifying concept, an attempt is made to observe, interpret, and integrate the therapeutic process in a wide variety of psychotherapies. All psychotherapy, regardless of specific form or technique, is viewed as an interpersonal or intrapersonal process, and should be understandable from a psychoanalytic perspective. Ten common factors are selected: structure of the therapeutic situation; the therapeutic relationship; management of anxiety; drives and their derivatives; mechanisms of defense; identification; regression; catharsis and abbreaction; external reinforcement; structural change. The various psychotherapies are compared regarding each of the ten factors.