Therapeutic interpersonal support in cognitive therapy

The concept of therapeutic interpersonal support in cognitive therapy is articulated. We elaborate the concept of support as responsible dependency, draw a distinction between constructive and regressive dependency, and delineate the specific therapist and patient responsibilities necessary to the development of therapeutic support in cognitive therapy. We elucidate how several apparent dichotomies are integrated into the standard techniques of cognitive therapy: (I) supportive vs. directive, (2) supportive vs. didactic, and (3) supportive vs. structured. Finally, we give the theoretical formulation of how interpersonal support is therapeutic in cognitive psychotherapy, and we contrast the specificity of this formulation to the notion of support as a "common factor."