THE PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND THE MANAGED CARE SETTING

This study represents a beginning effort to understand how alternative health care delivery systems affect psychotherapists and psychotherapy practice style. Professionals from various mental health disciplines employed in staff-model health maintenance organizations (N = 43) served as interviewees. Therapists answered objective and semistructured questions about their work setting, "burn-out," graduate training, and the evolution of self and practice style. Although methodological limitations prohibit meaningful and valid generalizations, the results suggest that alternative health care settings may serve as catalysts by creating an atmosphere that shapes and influences the therapist to develop more eclectic, short-term, problem-focused psychotherapy practice habits.