“When it comes to combining scope, clarity, wit, and humanity, Michael Hoyt does it better than anyone. He is brilliant, and Brief Psychotherapies: Principles and Practices may be his best book.” —John Frykman, Ph.D., author of Making the Impossible Difficult and The New Hassle Handbook Brief therapy can be defined succinctly as “Time-sensitive treatment to relieve psychological distress and/or promote growth” or as “The development of a collaborative alliance and an emphasis on patient/client strengths in the service of an efficient attainment of co-created goals.” Nowadays insurance companies, HMOs, counseling centers and consumers all desire—and often require—brief treatment for psychological problems. Specific skills and orientation are needed to meet the challenge of providing high-quality professional services in today's economic and healthcare environment.