Transtheoretical practice of psychotherapy.

A developmental model forms the framework for the transtheoretical practice of psychotherapy. Major preoedipal and oedipal events, interfaced with significant two-person (mother-child) and three-person (father-mother-child) influences--dyadic deficit, dyadic conflict, triadic deficit, triadic conflict--are instrumental in the formation of different relationship patterns in treatment that transcend classical versus selfobject transferences. Therapeutic as well as countertherapeutic stances and strategies are elucidated.