ABSTRACT
The evolution of psycho-analysis may be regarded as an 'ecological' process involving the interaction of patients of a particular kind and therapists of a particular outlook, within the environment of Western civilization. When any such process begins, there will usually be seen a tendency towards change in some definite direction, leading eventually to a state of equilibrium. With psycho-analysis the most easily identified tendency, manifested repeatedly as each new advance was made, has been towards an increase in the length of therapy. Thus anyone who tries to develop a technique of brief psychotherapy is trying to reverse an evolutionary process impelled by powerful forces, and it is as well that he should first identify these forces, and specifically try to oppose them.
