Multiple impact therapy

Abstract

Multiple impact therapy may be described as a time-limited series of clinical encounters between several therapists and a single patient oriented toward a specific therapeutic goal. The following set of "ground rules" may facilitate the implementation of multiple impact therapy in the clinical setting, while minimizing the possibility of inefficient process: 1. MI is used as an adjunct to individual psychotherapy. 2. MI is highly goal-directed. 3. MI must be time-limited. 4. The patient is briefed beforehand. 5. The therapist group is briefed beforehand. 6. Cooperation among therapists is vital. 7. The MI group is limited and invariant. When handled properly, MI incorporates the best characteristics of individual and group psychotherapy. Although the procedure is vulnerable to certain unique problems (relative efficiency, therapist-therapist conflict), the writers have found MI to be a treatment of choice for certain patient types when used to complement individual therapy. © 1970 State Hospitals Press.