Relationships between Psychodynamic and Behavior Therapies

Abstract

Recent years have seen some constructive efforts at the reconciliation of behavior therapy and psychodynamic therapies (Marmor & Woods, 1980; Wachtel, 1977; Wachtel, 1982). These are in happy contrast to the antagonistic polemics that have taken place in the past. For the most part, adherents of each have had little comprehension of the goals and methods of the other and have simply reiterated their own idealistic stances rather than look for common ground or seek to understand the real differences. In view of recent cutbacks in insurance funding for mental health care, the erosive effects of inflation on income available for care, and the push to document the effectiveness of treatments, it seems imperative that we try to determine which therapy or which combination of therapies works best for what conditions and which are most cost-effective.