[Problem oriented therapy. A new therapeutic and didactic concept].

Problem Oriented Therapy (POT) is a short-term therapy concept that is characterized by the following essentials: Problem orientation, patient orientation, eclecticism and process-structuring. These essentials will be explained and their therapeutic and didactic implications shown. POT is not committed to a certain psychotherapeutic school but uses selectively reliable methods from different therapeutic approaches. The indication to specific therapeutic strategies is made from a pragmatic point of view on the level of problem definition and takes account of the patient's own comprehension of the problem. Transparency and flexibility of therapeutic thinking and acting are essential in POT. This will be illustrated by a case report. The training-settings of POT will also be briefly described.