Change of Psychotherapy Goals as a Process of Resignation

Change of therapists' therapy goals during treatment and its impact on treatment outcome is studied on the basis of the cognitive-behavioral treatment of 64 phobic patients. In nearly two thirds of the therapies the therapists developed new goals. These changes are seen mostly in therapies that do not “go well” from the outset, which the therapists perceive from the very beginning. A change of goals under these conditions is seen as the result of a resigned process. Goal changes may also have a direct destructive effect on therapy outcome. Positive effects of goal changes or goal changes that result from a positive course of therapy could not be demonstrated