Therapy

Distinguishing Characteristics

Cognitive-behavioral

Directive, symptom focused

Techniques practiced outside of therapy

Counters negativistic misperceptions and mistaken pessimistic beliefs

Interpersonal

Exploratory but not open ended

Focused on interpersonal conflict, role change, role deficits

Short-term psychodynamic

Problem focused

Transference not examined

Life review, reminiscence

Recall of personal history to master one’s present and future

Problem solving

Brief, focused on patient-defined solutions

Accepts that some problems cannot be changed

May be useful to counter executive deficits

Supportive

Meant to maintain present level of function or symptom control

Dementia caregiver counseling

Focused on the caregiver role and activities

Combines elements of cognitive-behavioral, problem-solving, and interpersonal therapy

Bereavement therapy

Restructuring (not restoration) the experience of the lost loved one through review of both positive and negative aspects of the relationship

Behavioral

Educational, pragmatic

Directed at reducing negative and increasing positive experiences

Dialectical-behavioral therapy

Focused on reduction of counterproductive behaviors

Emphasis on acceptance of affect and the inevitability of conflict