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The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of a reverse format in psychotherapy. A detailed discussion of some specific problems and techniques will be included. Certain concepts will be discussed or alluded to in order to provide rationale for the practical procedures, The techniques will be illustrated with typical, (somewhat edited) patient-therapist dialogue.
A reverse format has three distinct values: (1) it enables the therapist to establish an inherently more accepting relationship with his patient, (2) it helps to bring into sharper focus defense systems and transactional games that usually are both overlooked and unwittingly encouraged, (3) it gives the therapist a position from which to deal with these in a constructive and integrative way, instead of a critical and analytical way.
Traditional formats establish an implicit, if not explicit, dichotomy between therapist and patient such as: abnormal and normal, neurotic and (charitably) less neurotic, teacher and student, wise and unwise, and so forth. The traditional formats of therapy imply that the patient is in a state that he should not be in and that therapy will help him get into some other state in which he will be better off. In essence, traditional formats of psychotherapy are formats of change,