Time-Limited Dynamic Psychotherapy in University Counseling Centers: A Survey of Clinicians

ABSTRACT

Time-limited dynamic psychotherapy (TLDP) is a time-sensitive, interpersonal approach, emphasizing attachment, and affective-experiential components, which influence the process of change. TLDP outcome studies have demonstrated the importance of the clinician’s role in both therapeutic process and outcome. However, TLDP research has been limited to archival data, necessitating additional analyses of the clinician’s role in new populations. The current study addressed this gap by evaluating clinicians’ experiences utilizing TLDP in university counseling centers (UCCs) nationwide. An 18-question survey was completed by 96 clinicians, and 28% reported utilizing TLDP. The interpersonal aspect and the focus on the cyclical maladaptive pattern were the most important components of TLDP in UCCs. Moreover, all clinicians who were trained in TLDP are positively impacted by the training, or their already neutral or positive view remained the same. Findings suggest preliminary evidence that UCC clinicians implementing TLDP view the model as beneficial to the UCC population.

KEYWORDS:

• Time-limited dynamic psychotherapy (TLDP)
• university/college counseling
• survey
• brief dynamic therapy
• quantitative

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Chiang, J.A., upon reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for this study.