ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the different definitions of short, medium and long term therapy and how these have evolved in more recent times. The emphasis on the short-term aspect of cognitive therapy came from Beck’s drive to be ‘efficient’ but also from research findings that longer periods were not usually necessary. Judith Beck’s emphasis on this point has shifted as longer-term variations of cognitive have been found to be necessary for some types of problems and also to adapt to the preferences of some clients. The time emphasis tends to rely on a fairly structured approach to the work, although this also must be varied for different types of client.
