Specifics and nonspecifics in psychotherapy

The specifics/nonspecifics issue in psychotherapy has given rise consecutively to three major positions: (a) The systems' position, in which each specific approach to therapy views itself alone as embodying true theory and rightful practice, while rivaling approaches are seen as superficial or unscientific. (b) The nonspecifics' position in which the latter are seen as sole carriers of therapeutic effects. (c) The recent integrative position in which instead of the systems' self-immured isolation or the nonspecifics' paralyzing equivalence of all therapies, a synthesis of specific approaches within a larger nonspecific theory or practical strategy is attempted.