The psychodynamics of prescribing in behavior therapy

The assignment of therapeutic tasks derived from learning theory to the patient by the therapist constitutes behavioral prescribing. After discussing some issues involved in comparing schools of psychotherapy and briefly examining some behavioral aspects of the psychotherapist-patient relationship, the author considers psychodynamic implications of a number of behavioral prescriptions, including homework, relaxation training, systematic desensitization, flooding, assertiveness training, sexual therapy, and self-control procedures. The author then examines possible meanings of behaviorally prescribed change itself, briefly discusses countertransference in behavior therapy, and advocates a multitheoretical perspective for psychotherapists.