The general goals for SE dynamic psychotherapy with depressed patients:

1. To establish a relationship of rapport and trust—the supportive component of SE dynamic treatment. Paying attention to the patient’s expressed goals is very important in establishing rapport and trust and leads to a helpful therapeutic alliance.

2. To use rapport and trust to develop an atmosphere in which patients can express what they are thinking and learn to understand what they have expressed—the expressive component of SE dynamic treatment. Understanding can be increased by interpretations that are focused on the central relationship pattern and the conflicts within it.

3. To facilitate maintenance of the gains of the therapy during the treatment period and after its termination.

(53 pp.)