What are Problem Solving Brief Therapy Transdiagnostic Techniques
The diagnostic model, which focuses on identifying specific diagnoses and targeting symptoms, has guided psychologists, shaped therapeutic protocols, and influenced how patients understand their mental health struggles. However, despite its widespread adoption, the era of diagnosis-driven therapy is undergoing a seismic shift. Increasingly, recent research is questioning the efficacy, limitations, and ethics of this traditional framework.
This shift is prompting therapists to focus on transdiagnostic approaches, such as the one proposed by the Problem-Solving Brief Therapy Model over half a century ago.
Too often, when collaborating with and supervising teams rooted in different theoretical approaches, therapists express distrust and reluctance to apply a model that does not begin with a few exploratory sessions dedicated to obtaining a diagnosis. Moreover, without the crucial presence of a diagnostic label, they are unsure which predefined protocol to apply in each case or how to track their client’s progress. Years of specialization may ultimately fail therapists , even worse, lead to the prescription of medical treatments by a psychiatrist and ultimately not serve their patients in the best way possible
The diagnostic approach in psychotherapy is rooted in the biomedical model, where mental health is treated the same as physical health: diagnose the presence or absence of a disorder, assess its severity, and then help to alleviate symptoms.
Diagnoses and protocols provide a comfortable framework for experts, supported by a solid theoretical background. If the client improves, it is attributed to the treatment. If they do not improve or drop out, it is seen as resistance on the client’s part. In such cases, the solution often is to increase the frequency of sessions or switch to another form of medical treatment, such as psychiatric medication.
However, new research indicates that disorders once considered distinct often share genetic, environmental, and neurobiological factors. This overlap challenges the rigid structure of diagnostic categories and signals a shift in how mental health is understood and treated.
