The Debate Over Time-Limited Treatment in College Counseling Centers

Abstract

The use of time limits in psychotherapy with college students has become a commonly used strategy in counseling centers that are faced with increased demand for services and decreasing resources. However, this has been a controversial issue and there is no consensus at present as to whether or not the use of time limits with college students is clinically justified. This article explores the debate over the use of time limits by examining questions related to the role of counseling centers, the definition of psychotherapy, and the advantages and disadvantages of employing a time-limited model of treatment with college students. A case vignette is included. The author concludes that decisions about the kind of services a counseling center wants to provide must be made only after thoughtful deliberation of these issues by clinicians and through negotiation with the institution.

Key Words:

• Time-limited treatment
• college counseling
• medical model
• developmental model
• definition of psychotherapy