Intervention in Psychotherapy

The Full Significance of the term “intervention in psychiatry” may briefly escape recognition. It quickly becomes apparent, however, that the entire area of psychotherapeutic endeavor is involved. The institution of psychotherapy itself is an art of intervention, following which there develops a host of intervening acts, attitudes, or procedures. Consideration must be given to many aspects, from the ensuing doctor-patient relationship to interpretation itself. Communication, interviewing techniques, management of resistance factors, patience or impatience, and even interest are all areas in which intervention plays its part. The very material for interpretation1 is made up of behavior, talk, intimation, gestures, and feelings. Planned or unplanned intervention, timing, and the extent of the use of intervention are still other aspects of this challenging topic.

It has been stated that while psychotherapy is a planned technique the description of such planning is prone to fall into general statements.2 A formulation, therefore, should consist of carefully delineated areas in which psychotherapeutic intervention is carried out. Thus psychotherapy itself becomes intervention.

Intervention is “an action by a therapist that tends to direct or influence the client's (patient's) behavior, during a therapy session or in general.” Such a definition can be interpreted as including any sound, movement, or action either designed to make—or resulting in—an alteration in the course of the psychotherapeutic interview, or the course of treatment of a patient. By this interpretation this includes everything from an intentional or unintentional sound, movement, or action, such as a grunt, a clearing of the throat, a shift of position, or interpretations to the prescription of medications, electric shock therapy, or hospitalization itself. Frequently employed media of intervention include a change of speech, through rising or falling inflection, by facial expression, or by direct questio