Toward Science-Practice Integration in Brief Counseling and Therapy

Abstract

Increased interest in the practice of brief counseling and therapy has been accompanied by an expansion of research activity. Nevertheless, signs abound of a schism between science- and practice-based understandings. This article outlines major approaches to brief counseling practice, including psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and strategic; summarizes recent research on brief therapeutic outcomes and processes; and identifies overlapping themes in the science and practice literatures. An integrative model of brief intervention, capable of being flexibly modified for a variety of client populations, is offered as a framework for future practice, research, and training activities.