Psychoanalytical interval therapy

The history of focal therapy clearly reveals it to be closely linked with short-term therapy. This fact can often lead us to take a rather limited view of the focal therapeutic approach, since in reality it can also be a useful concept for long-term treatment. Experiences with therapy performed on an interval basis show that development happens in stages and that a new step forward - a "quantum leap in development" - can only be achieved when the time is right. This step frequently requires that the patient have their own experiences, undergo their own suffering and develop an Ego-dystonic reaction towards their characteristic behavioral conditions which can often only be achieved outside the therapeutic environment. In this context, it becomes even more significant that we understand and take into consideration the "self-analytical function of the Ego". If these preconditions are met, then it may even be possible to achieve profound structural changes in a longer-term therapeutic process, assuming that this therapy is performed in focal stages rather than continuously.