The cost of psychotherapy.

Examines the relationship between psychotherapy funding policies and concepts of mental health. Three levels of mental health (necessity, improvement, and potentiality) are proposed. Necessity represents basic adaptation, the current dominant level illustrated by brief psychotherapy funded through managed mental health care. Improvement is the phase beyond necessity aimed at prevention and heightened quality of life, and potentiality is the ideal. The latter 2 now receive limited funding and emphasis. At question are both economic and social policies that endorse a narrow rather than a broad conception of mental health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)